Fellow MFFLs. As much as I am enjoying watching this season and all of its excitement unfold since our MAVS are finally showing signs of life I'm truly salivating when I consider the possibility of what next year's team could look like!
Since it's never too early for a little armchair GMing, without further ado please take a look at what I think could/should be our roster heading into next season.
Pg: Luka
Sg: Klay Thompson
Sf: Jimmy Butler
Pf: Barnes
C: Bamba
Bench(in no particular order):
DFS
Dirk
Barea
Harris
Tyson Chandler
Kleber
Brunson
Mejri
Now let's get into some of the details and why I think this team is attainable and how we get there.
We max both Klay and Butler. And I know plan powder hasnt worked in the past but we finally have a budding star in his youth (one that appears to be very unselfish and who has a knack for highlight real assists which should be very attractive to other stars). Combine the appeal of Luka with the no sales tax in Dallas and I think plan powder might actually work this time!!
We get Bamba in a salary dump/prospect swap with Orlando. We send away DSJ and Powell and Receive Bamba and Mozgov in return and immediately buyout Mozgov. If I'm being honest I'm not sure if that's an option for us to buyout Mozgov so his salary doesn't count against our cap and if not then instead of agreeing to take back his contract I would just include a future first(next tradeable) with DSJ and Powell.
I think the incentive for Orlando is they clear up a bit of a log jam in their frontcourt while filling a hole at Point Guard and gaining a future first in the process. Powell should also be a decent enough end of the rotation piece for them in the final year of his contract.
Dirk: I think if this is the team you are putting on the floor and if there is an ounce of gas in the tank then its enough to entice Dirk to lace em up one more time for a real shot at another championship!
DFS has earned a raise but I dont think it's so substantial that our scenario is unattainable and the rest of the bench would be on vet min deals so all of your money is tied up in your starters and DFS long term.
Tyson Chandler is a wild card. I know he might be sour on Cuban(and probably rightfully so) but he is the ideal bench big to come off the bench and play next to Dirk and I'm counting on him still having a soft spot for the place he became a champion and for Dirk! If unable to convince Tyson or if there are lingering health concerns there are certainly others who could take on this role as the Dirk protecting big off the bench.
In this scenario you have a young and working on being elite PG in Luka. 2 Elite 2 way wings in Butler and Klay who should fit tremendously well off of Luka. Barnes has settled splendidly into a sidekick role again and is absolutely killing it from 3 and is at least an average defender if not a bit above average. Bamba is the wildcard. If he plays to his strengths which should be rebounding and rim protection this team should be a championship contender no doubt with essentially the same bench that is already among the best in the league. This is it guys! This is the team that can take us to the top and I believe it is attainable from a salary perspective as well which I'll breakdown below.
Roster Projected Salaries
Klay $34 MM
Butler $34 MM
Barnes $25 MM
Luka $7.7 MM
DFS $10 MM (I'm taking a guess here but im thinking in the neighborhood of a 3 year deal with the AAV about $10 MM, which if I understand bird rights correctly we can go over the cap to sign)
Brunson $1.4 MM
Barea $Vet Min
Dirk $Vet Min
Harris $Vet Min
Chandler $Vet Min
Kleber $Vet Min
Mejri $Vet Min
Cap is projected to be $109 MM
We would come in before DFS and vet mins about $103 MM
Actually would have about $6MM to play with wherever necessary before signing DFS above the cap using bird rights and then filling out the roster with the vet min. signings.
Please everyone tell me what you think of the roster/point out any particular loopholes you see in the logistics. Thanks!