2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[Jason Terry]

So, let's follow through with this.  BTW, if you assume JRich is nothing more than Finney's backup, then that is a role Green can grow into.

Something I've said when thinking about big dollar RFA's is you have to watch out for BYC.  The sending team only gets to use 1/2 of the outgoing salary, but all of the incoming salary counts.  Hard to bridge the $14mm gap on a $28mm max.  But, if you think about someone making in the mid teens, then JRich matches anything from $13.2mm to $16.6mm.  At $16.6mm, $11.6mm is within range of both $16.6mm and $8.3mm.  At $13.2mm, $11.6mm matches both the $13.2mm and the $6.6mm.

So, to your point, you could work over the cap and get any kind of FA in the $13-$16 million range via sign and trade with JRich (even a RFA) and use the Full MLE to fill another hole.  Something like:

KP/DP/WCS
Maxi/New
DFS/Green
THJ/New
Luka/Brunson

BTW, this would be a way to get Markkanen for more than the MLE if you assume Chicago has a use for JRich...which I think they do.  It adds to salary, but they could buy out Satoransky for $1mm instead of cutting him for $5mm and Dallas would make up that salary by using the MLE on Satoransky.  

KP/DP/WCS
Maxi/Markkanen
DFS/Green
THJ/Sato
Luka/Brunson

This is just an example.  Suddenly, that bench doesn't need KP and Luka to platoon and there is plenty of O among the backups to crush most benches.  This still doesn't make Markkanen a starter, but it does get him some money.  

Personally, I'd rather use the MLE on Theis and do the JRich deal for a better secondary ball handler.  What about WCS and JRich together to Charlotte and bring back Graham.  Or, maybe think bigger.  That combo can get you to the $20mm range of FA's.  The trick is finding the team that thinks JRich and Willie for a year (and maybe a second) is better than losing their guy for nothing.  Norman Powell?  Dinwiddie? Fournier? Gary Trent Jr.?  Portland, Brooklyn, Toronto and Boston could all use guys like that and it would be hard for Duffy to get too mad if you are sending his guy Richardson to a playoff team.

This has made sense for awhile. Options picked up on JR and WCS. Re-sign THJ..........gives us great RFA matching ability or offseason or in-season trade ammo. Also able to trade KP if it makes sense at any time.........bring in two good players with the MLE and BAE. Which could be used for future trades instead of current players. 

All of which could be done pre-FA which lets us shop for deals. We end up with more talent than going under the cap. 

Then once our business is done and we’re just under the tax line we extend all 3 of Luka, DFS and Brunson. 

Luka/Dragic-MLE
THJ/Brunson
DFS/JRich/Green
Maxi/Millsap-BAE
KP/DP/WCS

^better than what we currently have

Alternatives? It’s really just Kawhi, Conley, Lowry, CP3 and Collins(for free) that make sense and these guys are extremely unlikely to have interest. Any lesser players then it makes more sense to stay over the cap and possibly add a SnT like you said. 

MLE steals: Markkanen, Dragic, Caruso, Oladipo, Fournier, Batum, THT, OPJ, DJJ, Theis, Portis 

Plenty of decent backup 4’s in the BAE range: Bjelica, Millsap, Tucker and Gay

Could add guys like that and even do a SnT for someone like Graham, Holmes, Powell etc