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[SleepingHero]

1  I certainly agree with you that Cuban is likely to mess this up, no matter how he approaches it. He lacks finesse and hasn't opted to hire someone who can navigate these negotiation waters with skill.

2  I agree that you pay to keep Kyrie. But I would think there should be more possibilities other than "max" and "walk."

3-7  I agree Cuban might play the excuse game of a cheapskate (since he has many times before) but offering Kyrie to get paid like Luka doesn't feel like that sort of move -- assuming Cuban also does spend the full MLE, and does a SW on Bertans, and is aggressive in scouting and getting good players to develop, and eventually lands just below the 170M hard cap.

But since you mention it, and as I ponder, I think if I was Kyrie and Cuban wanted me to sign for Luka money, I'd want to see the rest of the roster moves and make sure the roster-building is a smart and aggressive route to the future and that the money he's saving on me is spent elsewhere in a way that matters.

ONE IMPORTANT POINT - Under the new CBA, Cuban and Kyrie/his agent can start talking new deal numbers and parameters in June, just as soon as NBA Finals end. That should help a lot imo.

I'm glad we're largely in agreement regarding Cuban. However, I do think you're overlooking one important X-factor and that is Kyrie's sense of feeling respected. This is the same dude who asked for a trade immediately after winning the finals because he felt like he was number 2. Same dude who blew up the Nets season(s) because of clashes with the FO (and Kyrie basically signaling he was disrespected). His final move was either give me a max extension or trade me. And even though they were 1st in the East and a powerhouse he stayed true to his word because the Nets didn't offer a fully guaranteed max. 

You cannot play games with Kyrie. I don't think he truthfully cares what Luka is getting paid or that he's lower on the proverbial totem pole. He wants a max. If he will not be given a max, you're asking yourself to be struck by Kyrie's indomitable sword of PR Nightmares, as he has an incentive to act out. Risking that kind of distraction over 10 million is foolish to me. If the Mavs didn't want Kyrie, they shouldn't have traded for him. As soon as that trade went through (and for the assets that they paid), they have to follow through and retain the asset (*and relationship*) 

Give Kyrie the max. If you don't you have to SnT him for scraps. It really is that simple imo.