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I don't understand why we can't simply put a team together through free agency and the draft. There seem to be all these restrictions and limitations for Dallas that other teams don't have.
All teams have the same restrictions.
This year Dallas went $23mm into the luxury tax, and that resulted in a luxury tax bill of over $56mm.
Dallas had a tax payer Mid-level Exception, which they split between Jalen Hardy and JaVale McGee. This exception is about half of what teams that do not pay luxury tax can afford.
Dallas traded their 2022 first round pick for Christian Wood. In general, Dallas has been good enough that their first round pick is not very good and it takes a great deal of luck to hit on a later first round pick.
Last summer, because of Dallas' salary cap situation, they were able to use the exception (Hardy/McGee) and then only allowed to bring in minimum-salary players. Obviously, the talent level is usually not that great for minimum level players, unless the players think that they are joining a team that will challenge for the title (like LeBron bringing in his buddies.)
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There has never been more talent across the NBA and globally. We have to be able to find 7-8 good players. Let the bad players walk, sign better players, draft a starter this summer.
Well, harder than it sounds there. Can't let bad players walk until their contracts are over. This summer some will walk. But because of overpaid players (Hardaway, Bertans, Kleiber) the Mavs still won't have a lot of room.
Mavs will have a good first rounder, depending on how the lottery falls.
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Has the DMN put together a logical 3-5 step process for Dallas to improve the roster for next season and going forward? Get George Riba to interview Cuban on the exact steps he's going take.
Why would the DMN know anything?
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Or does someone on here know the answers?
Mavs situation:
The Lottery is next Tuesday. The lottery is for the first four picks only and all other picks fall in order of record.
Dallas odds:
1st: 3%
2nd: 3.3%
3rd: 3.6%
4th: 4.0%
10th: 65.9%
Pick going to NYK: 20.2%
League Salary Cap: 134mm
League Luxury Tax: 162mm
Dallas players under contract with Salaries:
Luka: 40.1mm
THJ: 17.9mm
Bertans: 17mm
Maxi: 11mm
Bullock: 10.5mm (only 5.5mm guaranteed)
JaVale: 5.7mm
Green: 4.8mm
Hardy 1.7mm
1st round pick: (1st=10mm, 10th=4.3mm)
Cap hold: 900k (have to have 12 players)
Cap hold: 900k
Cap hold: 900k
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~115.7mm, using 10th pick salary.
About 18mm in cap space,
if the Mavs waive all free agentsFree agents/cap holds:
Kyrie Irving
Christian Wood
DWight Powell
Nic Melli
McKinley Wright
Justin Holliday
Markieff Morris
Theo Pinson
Frank Ntilikina
Moses Wright
Either those players sign with the Mavs, sign with someone else, or the Mavs waive their right to those players to clear up the holds. Because of those holds, the Mavs will essentially operate as a team OVER the cap.
Free Agency Exceptions (what they can use to sign a player) since they are essentially over the cap, even though there is technically cap rom)
Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level: 12.2mm
Bi-Annual Exception: 4.5mm
Other things Mavs could do: Waive/stretch.
You can waive a player and stretch their remaining salary over twice the number of years plus one. So Bertans has two seasons left at 17mm and 16mm guaranteed. You waive Bertans and you still pay him that salary, but his salary only counts against you over 5 years rather than two. So instead of 17mm this year, it is 33/5 or 6.6mm per year for 5 years and Bertans is free to sign with any team he wants. That would save the Mavs 11mm this year on the cap and luxury tax, but Bertans' money wouldn't be over after next year.
If the Mavs decide to spent a lot on Kyrie+Wood, so much that they would go over the luxury tax, they would have only the tax-payer exception to use rather than the regular payer mid-level exception.
Current Depth (assuming Kyrie stays)
Maxi/McGee
Bullock/Bertans
THJ/Green
Luka/Hardy
Kyrie
Wood probably walks, but I don't think he has a huge market.
Mavs want to add defense and PF/C talent/depth.
Some options at 10th pick:
GG Jackson, South Carolina Stretch4. Will probably be a solid interior scorer right away.
Dereck Lively, Duke, Center. 7'1 with 7'7 wingspan. Had a disappointing year, but would probably be able to play a rim protecting role right away.
Gradey Dick, Kansas, wing. Going to be a defensive liability, but may be the best available. Come in and spread the floor.
Cason Wallace, Kentucky, Combo, Again, not a needed position, but may be the best available.
Cam Whitmore, Nova, SF/PF. Just 6'7, so not quite the size you would want, but is strong and athletic, and likes to play down low.
Kyle Flipowski, Duke, center. Would be a good team guy, but may not be as athletic as you want for a rim protector.
Options for PF/C with some defense that are FAs:
Naz Reid, Minn, center. Gotta be your first choice. Good offensive skills, and good rim protector. He may go for more than the 12mm.
Draymond Green is old and a free agent. Will GSW keep the band together after losing to LA?
Harrison Barnes. Bring him back? He would be a good fit for what Dallas needs, but may get more than the MLE.
Rui Hachimura, Lakers. I think LA matches any MLE, though.
Thomas Bryant, Center, Denver. Not exciting.
Mason Plumlee, center, Clippers.
Andre Drummond, center, bulls. Has a player option. Might be a good target at the BiAnnual. Put up 6/6 in 13mpg. Is still under 30.
Dewayne Dedmon - for vet min. Just a situational rim protector.
Nick Richards, Charlotte. Great offensive rebounder, rim protector, just 25.
I think with Luka/Kyrie and a complete and total lack of big man talent, these guys will know that they can get more PT than most other teams, which should be attractive.
Dallas also can gain assets by signing and trading Wood and/or other players that are free agents.
So there you go. Resign Kyrie, draft a guy like GG Jackson or Cam Whitmore, then use the MLE on Naz Reid and the BAE on Nick Richards or Thomas Bryant and you are back in business.