11-06-2021, 01:12 PM
I think a question from the poll is very difficult to answer. Brunson has been good last regular season too, but then totally disapeared in playoffs. Two excellent games doesn't really provide enough evidence if this is sustainable and if it can carry over to playoffs. The key question for Mavs is if he can be a starter. On paper they have whole season to figure it out, but if the answer is "no" at the end of the season, he will walk for nothing, which Mavs just can't afford.
Seems like Brunson has made it very clear what his intentions are, so it is quite surprising to me that the Brunson dilemma hasn't been settled before the season. Either you show commitment and start him (which is what he wants) or you trade him while he still has full season on his contract left.
Despite he may seem as a rental at this stage due to his unrestricted status, his bird rights have value as the team looking to get him would have to carve out some 15 mil of cap space if Brunson continues to perform like this. Not many teams have cap space next season and SnT are not easy to execute. So trading for his low contract and bird rights makes a lot of sense to a team that wants to get him unless Brunson is looking to run show with the likes of SA, Detroit or OKC. On the other hand Brunson will have a huge say in the trade as the team targeting him has to know they will pay him 10-15 mil next year and they have to be sure he will actually stay with them. So no one will pay a ransom to get him at this stage. We are likely looking at protected FRP and perhaps ability to dump a contract, imho. Chicago got a protected FRP, SRP and bad contract (Jones Jr) for Markannen and I think they got a great deal.
At this stage I would try Brunson as a starter, probably till trade deadline and then make a decision. If it works and he is happy we can keep him. If it works but he still has to move we look for a trade. If it doesn't work, we look for a trade. Once KP hopefully comes back my starting unit would be Luka/Brunson/THJ/DFS/KP.
Seems like Brunson has made it very clear what his intentions are, so it is quite surprising to me that the Brunson dilemma hasn't been settled before the season. Either you show commitment and start him (which is what he wants) or you trade him while he still has full season on his contract left.
Despite he may seem as a rental at this stage due to his unrestricted status, his bird rights have value as the team looking to get him would have to carve out some 15 mil of cap space if Brunson continues to perform like this. Not many teams have cap space next season and SnT are not easy to execute. So trading for his low contract and bird rights makes a lot of sense to a team that wants to get him unless Brunson is looking to run show with the likes of SA, Detroit or OKC. On the other hand Brunson will have a huge say in the trade as the team targeting him has to know they will pay him 10-15 mil next year and they have to be sure he will actually stay with them. So no one will pay a ransom to get him at this stage. We are likely looking at protected FRP and perhaps ability to dump a contract, imho. Chicago got a protected FRP, SRP and bad contract (Jones Jr) for Markannen and I think they got a great deal.
At this stage I would try Brunson as a starter, probably till trade deadline and then make a decision. If it works and he is happy we can keep him. If it works but he still has to move we look for a trade. If it doesn't work, we look for a trade. Once KP hopefully comes back my starting unit would be Luka/Brunson/THJ/DFS/KP.