04-14-2021, 09:08 AM
(04-13-2021, 11:44 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Chicago needs $14.2mm in cap room this summer to max LaVine and then extend him. But, they are short. Take out the $3.0 Arcidiacono NG and add in 4 holds and they have $12.43mm in space. There are painful paths to more room through Young and Sato, but both are important rotation pieces. This is where JRich comes in. The difference between him at $11.615mm and Thaddeus Young at $14.19mm is $2.575mm. Add that to $12.43mm and you have $15mm in space, just above the $14.2mm they need.
So Dan I can imagine why Chicago would do this altho Young is an important rotation player for them. I just don't think Young at 15 mil for J Rich is a great move for the Mavs. Mavs could do much better than that and I don't picture them wanting to spend even more big money in their frontcourt rotation.
Right now Mavs have 50 mil committed to KP, Maxi and Powell next season. That's around 45% of the salary cap. Unless you can unload Powell somewhere I don't think Mavs want to up that number to 65 mil or 58% of the cap. And we would be losing a guard/wing defender in the process.
Unless Mavs can land a budding star player like Collins, I don't think they are going to spend much money on the front-court unless and until Powell's money is dumped. Also with Powell playing better there is less urgency to do much. They might be able to bring back Melli on a vet min and feel okay about their big rotation.
In terms of agent management with J Rich I think he could just opt-in and there's no big issue really. It kicks the can down the road. Mavs could keep him or trade him. And opt-in and extend is interesting. I think J Rich is a flawed but useful player. If you move him to the bench and keep him on a value contract (because you couldn't find something better) that is not the worst thing in the world.
Circling back to the Young thing I haven't done the math but if they need to free up cap space wouldn't they just not guaranteed his contract? They could then negotiate a new contract or find a cheaper player.