BRUNSON BURNER: to NYK for 4yrs/$104M (no SnT) | NYK docked 2025 2nd for tampering

[F Gump]

I don't track with this. 

There are just far too many unknowns to say it should have been "easy" for the Mavs to get a SnT done that they liked. It takes two to tango and if Rick Brunson is any indication of the NYK attitude toward DAL, then NYK refusing to work with DAL is the most natural thing. 

And we don't know the rest of the Mavs plans for the summer and once we do it may become really clear why they didn't pursue the SnT path.

It would have been easy for the Mavs if they are experts at selling/negotiating, and if they saw it as an opportunity.

But you're right, we can't assume that either of those is true.

There's no question NY would come out ahead (and at no cost to them) by simply saying "Yes, let's do it as a trade." But you're right, the Mavs shouldn't be smart enough to notice and point out the benefits to another team, if they take a freebie, nor expected to be good enough to sell another team on taking that freebie. Nor should they be expected to be smart enough to accept a freebie if offered.

Negotiating has NEVER been this owner's strong suit. But he thinks it is, while botching it every way you can over the years. This feels like either he's still leading the negotiating, or he's teaching Nico how to do it the Cuban way as he learns on the job.