(07-01-2022, 04:03 AM)Jommybone Wrote: 1. Jalen is a baller. I think he will prove himself worth his contract. He’s been better every year, and was one of this year’s best in the playoffs, where he outplayed All Star Donovan Mitchell and Hall of Famer Chris Paul.
2. The Mavs were in a position where the marginal cost of paying Jalen all the way up to the max would affect nothing but Cuban’s bank account. Letting him get away hurts the team in a way that is irreparable.
1. I have doubts. Jalen is not a 2-way player, nor a 3-level scorer. I like his game, but his contract and NY expectations are huge shoes to fill. If he makes it, Kudos to him.
2. I don't think it's true. Let's assume 5/150 would be the number that makes Jalen stay in Dallas and endure another 5 years as 2nd-guard banana to Luka. This year it only hurts Cuban's bank, but after that if Jalen does not develop into the 2-way player or an elite 3pt shooter that is ideal next to Luka, it's a bad contract that factually locks your non-ideal guard pairing for 5 years (see: Lillard+McCollum).
I might add that i was in camp "lock him up or trade him by the deadline" most of the time. Funny thing is, if we trade Brunson (for example to NY) at the deadline, he never gets the chance to perform in the playoffs and probably never gets this contract. NY locks him up at 4/60-75, Brunson outperforms this later and the Mavs look like idiots again for giving away such a value player for a minor return at the deadline. It was really hard for Dallas to get out of this situation in a good way, which was fumbled 4 years ago when the Mavs decided to steer Brunson into a FA situation after his first contract and then again not extending or trading him when they had the opportunity.