2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[StepBackJay]

Hmmm.  I've got two issues with doing the Love thing on a stand-alone basis.  1. I don't like the defensive fit with KP.  2.  If we retain THJ and JRich, we will be pretty tight to the tax and probably won't use the full MLE (then the next season we'd be WAY into the tax).

I don't think Cleveland is going to pay to trade you Love.  Maybe it is THJ/Powell as the Cleveland writer indicated.  Maybe they add a second (Cleveland has a ton of seconds in 22, though I'm not sure another project really moves the needle for Dallas).  I would probably try to swap Iwundu for Windler who might have more value some day as a bench specialist...but I digress.

To your point, what if the Love deal fixes some of the issues with a GS deal for Wiseman.  If you just trade for Wiseman, you are probably taking a step backwards today but betting on his upside.  Love can replace all of what KP does offensively (and is similarly a health risk), but you would be simultaneously developing a potential star who would pair up with Love quite well.  Forget all the other moving parts...would you do KP/Powell for Wiseman/Love?  I would, but I see Wiseman turning into something special.

The three team construct makes dealing with GS easier.  You can do something based on Johnson/Powell going out (with KP) and Oubre coming back with Wiseman/Love.  Or, you can follow along with what the Cleveland writer said and send out THJ instead of Johnson while bringing back Wiggins instead of Oubre.  The latter saves GS a ton of LT and might get you some additional draft compensation.  Wiggins and Love are both FA's the summer of 23.  The extension for Wiseman kicks in in 24.  If you do the Wiggins version it is:

Wiseman/WCS (or MLE)
Love/Maxi
Wiggins/DFS
JRich/Brunson
Luka/Brunson

If you do the Oubre version, simply move DFS back to starting SF and THJ to bench 3/2 as he is currently

Wiseman/WCS (or MLE)
Love/Maxi
DFS/THJ
JRich/THJ
Luka/Brunson

I can't see any scenario where Mavs do Love and Wiggins but the 2nd scenario with Wiseman/Love/Oubre is plausible.

Seeing as how Powell is an 11 million dollar player that plays 5 minutes a night when you swap him for Love you are getting a guy that if healthy is 30 min a night for a net difference of $20 mil or less. Powell's deal is a sunk cost so the only way you can move it is if you trade for someone else's overpaid player but then it makes the difference in contracts not look so bad.