2019-2020 Mavs Trade Discussion + Salary Chart

[DanSchwartzgan]

Do you guys think Victor Oladipo is worth a Max contract? And, would you want him as your third star next to Luka and KP? Would he be enough to make the Dallas Mavericks a contender?

Healthy Oladipo is certainly an excellent player and would be a great fit on Mavs. Problem is, he is not healthy a lot of time. This is why I am not really sure I would pay him the max. 

If we think about 2021 free agency to sign him, it would be only possible if we let THJ go. I don't think Oladipo is a better option instead of THJ and another 10 mil value player (which in theory can be traded for upgrade). As long of course THJ keeps playing the way he was last season. That's why I am not really a fan of 2021 free agency scenarios. 

Another problem is, if we trade for him, we can only offer 25 per contract extension (same as Indiana), not max. So if he doesn't want to take that option, we are competing to everyone else in the summer. That's why I would be reluctant to break a bank to sign him. I guess (please correct me if I am wrong) we would have both THJ and Oladipo bird rights in this case, so we could resign both. If this is correct, I would consider any non Luka, KP or THJ combination to get him. 

As experts say, that last step from good team to elite contender or a champion is the most difficult and is associated with most risks. You have to take them and then only one team can say that risks really paid of. All the rest are in "what if we didn't do that" mode. Healthy Luka, THJ, Oladipo and KP would be a killer core, capable on both ends. Any other semi capable SF/PF wing like DFS or Maxi would look great next to them. And it is not that difficult to fill the bench, even if we lose some major pieces.

This is a really good post on several levels.  Oladipo has had one season where he might come close to deserving max money...might.  Kind of a Max-Minus in my mind.  But, as you point out, teams trying to jump to true contender status have to take risks.  Making Oladipo your max #1 guy is something Detroit would do.  Overpaying to make him your #3 is the kind of risk that might put you over the top.  I personally think the $25 million per extension is fair.  But VO can potentially pick up an extra $50 million by waiting a year (or get injured again and lose a good bit of the $100 million extension...Cousins?).

The main advantage Dallas would have in trading for him would be Bird rights so that both VO and THJ could be retained...you were correct on that.  It is potentially a substantial benefit that comes with no guarantee.  If I’m Indy, I probably wait until the trade deadline before doing anything.  VO’s value isn’t great right now.  A healthy VO would be more valuable at the TDL, but there would be fewer bidders.  Depending on who went out in the package, it VO didn’t stay, you might be able to retain THJ AND have near max 2021 cap room.  

The last point I’ll make is to ask whether VO. or any player like him, will really be himself once he’s here.  I think it will take a special player to be the Horace Grant behind the Jordan and Pippen we already have (or the Chris Bosh to Wade and what’s his face).  I see Jrue Holiday as the archetype.  I wonder if Brogdon wouldn’t have been the better fit from the current Indy roster...but that ship has sailed. Do we see Oladipo as similar to Holiday or more of an Alpha Wannabe?  That question is going to apply to any Max Level guy we seek to add.  And what is Hardaway’s value if you put someone above him in the pecking order.