2021-2022 AROUND the NBA: GSW Champs [ARCHIVED]

[SleepingHero]

"Anything less than the max and PHX can also only offer 4 years at that number. "

Not trying to be confusing. What I meant by that statement is if Ayton wants the full 172 mil, it has to be attached to 5 full years. All the reports we've heard about is that PHX (Sarver) is against paying Ayton the 5 year max full stop, which means we're working with at most 4 years. At 4 years, the most PHX can offer is ~134, which is a smidge more than what DET 4 year max is (I believe its 130?).  

I don't disagree that DET could offer Ayton a lot (if he's their sole priority). Spotrac puts their expected cap room at about 25M, which is a big number (though not the max). But because of the RFA factor, and the suckiness of DET, I think Ayton would be a tough get for DET -- you seem to dismiss those issues, but I think they come into play even when money is being argued about.

That Spotrac number is their bare minimum amount of cap available. DET has a derth of team options that will make it quite easy for them to reach 35 mil in cap space. Frank Jackson+ Diallo alone is 9 mil. 

I'm operating under the assumption that Ayton wants to get paid first and foremost. PHX seems motivated to lowball him. Factor in Cade's emergence as a star and DET adding yet another top 4 lotto pick, it's not a stretch to see why Ayton could find them an attractive alternative. 

In any event, it's irrelevant to the Mavs. No way for the Mavs to be involved.

I agree here. I basically already said it's impossible for the Mavs to reroute Ayton here. This is more about PHX potentially getting dismantled this offseason. CP3 isn't getting any younger and should they lose Ayton (again, their choice, but one their owner doesn't seem averse to), that team just reverted back to what they were during the lotto years with Booker in a snap.