05-23-2021, 12:33 PM
(05-23-2021, 09:37 AM)omahen Wrote: I agree PF is the position of need. Olynik is an interesting name. But Theis does bring stuff we lack with his toughness.
Assuming this team is just not good enough to be a contender, it doesn't really make sense to run it back. You have to increase the ceiling. Although to be honest, I doubt free agency is the place where we would be able to really do it.
Which leaves trades. If we give THJ $18mm and use the Full MLE, we are at about $120mm in 21/22. We will have a ton of flexibility at the next TDL. JRich, DFS, Brunson and WCS expire. Burke has a $3.3mm PO in 22/23 and Maxi is non-guaranteed. We can spend a lot of time on KP deals, but I'm not convinced. Maybe adding "talent" is accomplished the same way we tried to do it with Johnson's expiring deal at the TDL (I know, another summer of kick the can).
If we give THJ $18mm and use the MLE, we are at about $120mm in 21/22. The next year Luka's $200mm extension kicks in (assumes all-NBA again this season) and Brunson and DFS will get paid. Just those raises could add $50mm. With Green ascending, maybe JRich is expendable by then. But, even with that and Willie and Burke rolling off, it will be tough to stay under the $140mm LT in 22/23. I don't see us as a LT team in 21/22 even operating over the cap. I do think the 22/23 tax is a consideration as we contemplate deals instead of FA signings.