(06-02-2021, 07:41 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: First, let's define what we actually gave up for KP so we can see what 50-cents on the dollar looks like. The 21st pick this year, an unprotected pick in 2023 and what? Expiring guys that weren't retained and a former lottery pick who probably won't get his $7mm QO this summer (but who did, combined with a second, net expiring Derrick Rose). That's not much, but 50-cents on that is very little. I agree with SBJ that some GM will talk themselves into KP, but it will probably be as a third "star" on a team where the window is short. People will say things like "I don't want Bertans" in a Wiz deal or Tristan Thompson in a Boston deal. But, there will be some unpleasantness in what we get back...especially if it is a draft day trade where both teams have to trade match.
Second, we were better this season without KP, so it isn't critical that we get a star to replace him. KP cost us 4.9 points per 100 possessions any time he walked onto the court this season. We were fifth in the west for the season and our net rating was sixth in the league (the LEAGUE) from March first on. Where would this team have been without all of that craziness and with some net neutral guy playing center? The point being that we are probably already close and if you remove the negative and use cap space well, there is a path to getting there (because "there" isn't that far away).
Below is a narrowed and amended (thanks to DF98) list of what I think is realistic from the perspective of the other team. I've removed GS, Detroit and Toronto from my list and I'm not buying the proposed additions of NO and SA:
Boston: RWIII plus Smart + Thompson - They have Fournier and youth to replace Smart who can walk in a year
Charlotte: Rozier plus youth (McDaniels?) - They have Graham/Monk to replace Rozier who can walk in a year
Washington: Bertans and Bryant plus Avdija - We have to eat overpaid but useful Bertans to get young but so-far disappointing Avdija
The KP equation is so tricky. You have fit issues, is he happy, does Luka like him, and the ever present injury concerns. I maintain the easiest and quickest way for the Mavs to be a contender is getting KP to play to his potential.
I look at the names you mention above, I like several of those guys. Am intrigued by others. You mention the Mavs have played better when KP is off the floor and that is a good point. But I just keep on coming back to the point is how do the mavs elevate themselves to contender status against teams like a healthy Brooklyn, a healthy Denver, a healthy Philadelphia, etc moving forward. The guys listed above are good players, but I don't know if any move the needle. The Stephen Adams, Bertans, etc are just guys imo. Some may help long term, but I think it just leaves us as a team that doesn't have enough.
So I am still holding out for KP to work here. It doesn't look good now. But I would hate to trade him without me seeing how I think he should be utilized.