07-01-2021, 07:02 AM
(06-30-2021, 10:08 AM)mvossman Wrote: I don't hate the Poeltl idea, but to me the most important thing is to maximize the talent of your starters. Holmes is more mobile than Poeltl and less likely to get forced off the court in the playoffs.
It would be different if I thought we needed that extra cap for the other starter, but I don't see it. You can squeeze Ball in there. A Collins deal would very likely involve Maxi, which gives you enough to max him. There is not much out there that you need that cap for (unless you are going after Lowry or Conley).
I'm probably a charter member of the Holmes fan club (quite possibly the founder). But, I don't think you can just throw away the extra cap room this creates by assuming Atlanta will take back Maxi. Maybe. Or maybe it will take a full on max offer sheet to do this. Or, maybe Atlanta would prefer a $28mm TPE over Maxi and a $19mm TPE. And as you mention, there are players and combos of players that are precluded by spending extra on FA Holmes (who you don't control) vs. grabbing a sure thing while dealing with SA anyway. Plus, that financial difference could hinder us in future years in terms of the apron and trying to sign and trade for a player.
Almost every traditional center in the league gets run off the floor in the playoffs. There is some school of thought Utah should have sat Gobert. But, there are some guys that you just can't stop without a bigger body somewhere on your roster. I think LAC gets this right paying $7mm to Zubac. The article attached is probably a little over the top in its praise for its home town boy. While true that Holmes is better on the perimeter (but not great), Poeltl is the better interior defender.
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/3/2...all-impact