2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[Chicagojk]

Good point about operating under the cap. I was over-thinking it.

Assume for a moment Dallas trades KP to Boston with Kemba going to the Knicks and Dallas's own 2023 pick coming back with no other money. That's an overly light return on the surface, but it opens up a TON of cap space and puts all of our future first rounders back on the table for trades. It's like the keystone deal for entirely remaking the roster if you can get the right guys lined up.

If they then let most of their FAs go and sign THJ to a new contract starting at $20mm, Dallas would still have about $35mm in cap space even if JRich opts in. If he leaves or they help him find a new home, it could swell up to $46mm. Want both Ball and Collins? I bet you could make it happen with that kinda space. Or sign Collins and trade one of those future firsts for Turner. Do you need to trade another future first to Atlanta to seal the deal with Collins? You now have the ammo to make that choice. Or maybe you go for quantity in Ball, Turner, and Markkanen. No problem.

If you told me Dallas could trade KP for their own 1st round refund, it sounds like a lousy deal. But if you think of it as KP for 2-3 young impact starters, I think there's a lot to work with. Unlike the Knicks a few years ago when they dumped KP for powder, though, the trick is to only make the trade when you have the follow-up moves ready to go.

So the Knicks would give up the 23 pick we owe them and take on Kemba with cap room?   If we are to assume, and it may be a big assumption, that the Knicks are a competent organization again, why would they tie up cap room at a PG who really struggled this year, while potentially helping a division rival?  I have trouble seeing that.  The Knicks and the Mavs could be circling the same type of free agents this summer.