2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[F Gump]

Easiest way to think of it is to clear the slate (wipe away THJ, JRich and WCS) with Powell presumably gone in a trade.  It gives you almost $41.9mm in space.  Then add people back...

Add WCS and you are at $38.7mm (remember you don't add the full $4.1mm since there was a cap hold for a minimum slot already there).

Add JRich at his PO and you are at $28.03mm or $65k from a max for Collins.  Remember you can extend JRich with up to a 20% raise off that number if you wish.

If you give up protection on the 2023 pick you can now trade the 2025 pick.  Doing a S&T for a FA using space and a pick requires less space than signing one outright.

If they decide to make Brunson RFA this summer instead of UFA next summer, it gives him a cap hold that is $1,359,000 higher than his 2021 salary.  That gives you $26.7 to sign someone like Collins or $27.6 if you do a Sign and Trade.

None of this contemplates keeping THJ.  You could substitute him in for JRich or JRich and WCS.  If you do the latter and keep Brunson at his RFA number, you can start THJ at $13.4 and still have room for a full max offer for Collins...more if you don't make Brunson a RFA.

Bottom line is trading Powell allows you to keep one of THJ or JRich and still get a max offer out there.  Will Green be ready for some rotation role by then?  One of the advantages of dealing Powell now is you might be able to do a deal for Collins using 25 and 27 now and retain the flexibility to keep both JRich and THJ (or replace one using space before signing Collins).

Three notes about the above
1 The Mavs have no choice looming with Brunson. He has another year (2021-22) on his deal. There is no option.
2 If JRich opts in, that 11.6M is all he gets in 2021-22. Maybe that's enough. Maybe it's not.
3 If you sign and trade for a player using cap room (also known as an under-cap trade), or if you simply sign a player using your cap room, the amount of salary you can offer is exactly the same either way. Cap charges for empty roster slots cause that, and work identically in both instances.

Also, once the Mavs make the mental commitment to lose either THJ or JRich in favor of a max offer to Collins, doesn't that player then become quite expendable in a trade for Collins right now? And doesn't adding such outgoing salary and talent to the mix change the whole landscape on what they might be willing and able to do in other directions?