2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[DanSchwartzgan]

3 things I feel semi-strongly about:

1. Mavs want to operate over-the-cap
2. Mavs would like to move KP for the *right trade* but not for pennies on the dollar
3. Mavs #1 target will be Collins (namely bc BPA and fit with Luka)

If Mavs do not succeed in plan A they would be wise to try to add-to rather than upgrade any one spot.  



Bottom line is you have the ability to add 2 rotation players without giving up any of your top 8 guys that are under contract or likely to be resigned (ie THJ). Additionally the BAE would give you another potential slot for a rotation player.

Here's the deal I've been thinking through assuming JRich opts in and no trade of KP.  We have $23.8mm in space if we set aside THJ for the moment and don't exercise the WCS TO.  To your point, it would be nice to add players to THJ, not simply replace THJ.  My plan is to do just that and add Batum and Graham.  I would target Batum first and seek agreement for a contract starting at the $9.5mm MLE amount.  I can stop right there, keep THJ and I've improved.

Instead though, I'm going to convince Charlotte I want Devonte Graham instead of THJ.  Charlotte desperately needs a center.   Their plan would be to hang onto his $4.7mm hold, grab a center with space and sign Graham above the cap.  Yes, Graham is restricted, but if a team signs him to an offer, they can't match AND get their center.  They only have $20.6mm to work with if you assume they want to keep the Graham hold, the Martin brothers and Jalen McDaniels (and I do).  BTW, that $20.6mm in space does not include the cost of their pick.  They are walking away from holds on Monk, Zeller and Biyombo in this scenario.  

Charlotte has the room to go get Holmes at his reported $18mm asking price and keep Graham as long as Dallas doesn't screw it up for them.  We can threaten that and then work to help each other out.  The agreement is that Charlotte gets Holmes while retaining the Graham hold.  They then do a S&T of Graham for JRich.  We stay over the cap and can then formalize the MLE to Batum and bring back THJ.  

There is the issue of BYC, but the beauty of this plan is we can overcome it.  We can start Graham at any number under $16.7mm as long as half of that number will trade match JRich.  I would propose we use $14.2mm in our early conversations with Charlotte.  That is the amount of space we have left after signing Batum if we had to do it with cap space.  The JRich contract matches $14.2 and half of $14.2...$7.1,  is within $5 million of $11.6.  What I like is you are 10 deep and can play all sorts of small and large lineups in the playoffs.  Here is what would arguably be our best defensive lineup:

Luka/Brunson
Graham/Green
DFS/THJ
Batum/Maxi
KP/Powell/BAE