(06-11-2021, 06:27 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: I don't think its hard at all to get salaries synced up. I agree that Mavs wouldn't be bothered by Bertans contract. Bertans is a high volume shooter so 16/yr is actually pretty good. I am pretty sure Mavs would want Avdija and Bryant which would put you at 28-29 which is good enough for salary matching. Avdija has some promise, Bryant is sort of a flier with his injury but on a 1 yr deal.
To me the sticking point would be Washington's pick #15. I have a feeling they will make a deal because otherwise they are locked into mediocrity anyway.
In this move they would be losing two starters that were both injured this year (Bryant, Avdija) for KP. If they want to start a Hachimura/KP front court they could go that route and just figure out SF. Hutchinson is another SF they drafted and they would probably have the full MLE to round out the roster.
Say the other trade pieces are
Bryant (coming of an ACL injury)
Avdija (coming of a hairline fracture fibula)
Bonga (RFA, S&T)
15th pick
For starters two of these players had significant injuries themselves and you are taking a chance on two unproven talents in Avdija/Bonga.
There is a chance Bryant becomes a 20 PPG offensive stud, Bonga/Avdija become shutdown defenders and the 15th pick turns into Donovan Mitchell, but there is also a chance none of these things happens, so the 2nd big part of such a strategic trade is capspace in 2022. Now you can actually try and sign a 2nd star. You don´t get that, if Bryant/Bertans account for nearly 80% of Porzingis long-term salary. Therefore I think it should be very difficult to match salaries, unless you find some RoLo overpay workaround OR the Wizards include Hachimura.
And that´s assuming the Mavs would be willing to take on any of these "projects", when they usually want finished pieces.