Still a chance at Maggette?

[Cyberstorm3000]

This is an interesting read. I think it is a long shot but it helps everybody.

http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=500

Corey & Creativity
A Blueprint For Getting Maggette
By David Lord -- DB.com




How about Corey Maggette in a Dallas uniform. Impossible? Nah. It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and with some creativity it remains doable. Step-by-step, we give the Mavs the blueprint for exactly how to get it done:
As we've previously highlighted, the Mavs' gaping hole for several years has been the lack of a perimeter player who can take the ball and create his own shots virtually at will. They are hard to find, but now one of those rare ducks is about to be shopping for a new home.
Corey Maggette is one of the best in the NBA at creating his own shot, and he draws fouls by the boatload. But despite his talent, because of NBA rules he's also virtually certain to be sent packing soon by the Clippers, when they create salary cap room for their twin mega-signings of Baron Davis and Elton Brand.
The early splash in NBA free agency - in fact it was more like an atom bomb than a splash - was the last minute contract opt out by Golden's State's Baron Davis, followed by his quick agreement to sign with the LA Clippers once the league opens for business again on July 9 for a reported $60-65M over 5 years. At the same time the Clippers will also have the cap space to offer a mega-deal to retain star power forward Elton Brand. But in the process they will be forced to use up virtually all their cap space, while renouncing the rights to Maggette.
That looming sequence of events would provide the Clippers with a strong pair of stars in Davis and Brand, some solid starters in Al Thornton, Chris Kaman, and Cuttino Mobley (or rookie Eric Gordon), but little else - and without any spending money left to fill out their needs.
At the same time, that would put Maggette on the free agent market with no possibility of a Clippers' sign-and-trade. With only a few teams having more spendable cap room this summer than the Mid-Level Salary Exception (MLE) of about $5.5M in first year salary, Maggette would either be signing with one of those few salary-rich teams or (more likely) be forced to accept the MLE for his services. Already powerhouse teams like San Antonio and Boston are rumored to be offering Maggette a full MLE deal, in hopes of getting that talent at a steal of a price.
Within those dilemmas for both the Clippers and Maggette is swirling opportunity. LA would like to have more spending flexibility, and Maggette would like to have a bigger contract.
We can solve both problems.
The way to make it all happen would center around LA acquiring Davis via sign-and-trade from the Warriors, rather than via free agency. If they could do so, they would then be operating as an "over-the-cap" team rather than as one carving out cap space, and when that trade was done they could sign Brand to ANY contract and would also still have their MLE and BAE available to fill out the roster.
In addition, the Clippers have one quite desirable player to offer in such a scenario: Corey Maggette, whom they would be losing anyway.
The potential salaries would fit almost perfectly as well. Maggette's last salary was $7M, so the most he could be offered without triggering "base year" roadblocks would be a first-year salary of $8.4M (a 20% raise). An $8.4M salary to Maggette would trade-match up to $10.6M for Davis, and over 5 years with max raises the total for Davis would be $64.13M - right at the reported "$60-65M over 5 years" he has agreed to. With a sign-and-trade, the deal could even be revised to go 6 years not 5.
In that idea, Davis is happy. Maggette is happy. The Clippers - who now have the ability to add depth if they want using MLE and BAE money - are happy. The snag would probably be Golden State.
In Warriorland, losing Davis (who led them back to the playoffs after an extremely long drought) for absolutely nothing is stunning news. But to salvage something from the loss, it's quite unlikely that they would want to take on a long-term obligation to Maggette, because this summer they will be signing another younger explosive shot-creator (Monta Ellis) to a sizable long-term contract. And since Maggette's defense is spotty (to put it kindly) and Ellis' is completely non-existent too, there's no practical way to pair them alongside each other and come out ahead.

What about LA sending a different player to GS? The Clippers really wouldn't have any desirable alternative to offer.

And that's where the Mavs could get in on the action. Dallas offers to take Maggette and his new $8.4M contract, and then send something to GS that they would want.

Now Davis is happy, Maggette is happy, LA is happy, and Dallas is happy. How do we make the Warriors eager to join the fun?

If we pencil in Maggette at $8.4M coming to Dallas, the rules require the Mavs to send someone (in this case GS) at least $6.64M in matching contracts. And at the end of the day, it needs to be a player or package of players that delight the Warriors. Otherwise they might as well just walk away from the table.

What should the Mavs offer?

The perfect offer would be Jerry Stackhouse and Brandon Bass. And perhaps (if the Warriors want) the Mavs add on a sign-and-trade of Tyronn Lue to help fill GS's hole at PG left by the departure of Davis.

But the key piece in this deal would be Bass. Stackhouse is merely the (essentially) expiring filler to make the numbers work.

Bass is young, athletic, and he can score. He is an interior player. He can run the floor and is brutally strong. And that's the hole the Warriors have been trying to fill.

Yes, the Mavs love Bass. But in a year he will be an unrestricted free agent, and if his team is over the cap, the most they will be able to offer to keep him would be the MLE. If he is signable long-term at the MLE, the Mavs can try to bring him back to Dallas at that point just like they did with Diop. And if it takes more money than that to sign him next summer, the Mavs were going to lose him anyhow in a year, so they might as well get full value while they can, and fill that hole that has bedeviled them.

So here's our final scorecard on this idea …

* LA gets Davis while retaining their MLE and BAE.
* GS gets Bass, perhaps Lue, and Stackhouse as filler so they have something to show for their loss of Davis without taking on a pile of long-term salary in the process.
* Dallas gets Maggette (and perhaps the Mavs can get GS castoff free agent center Patrick O'Bryant thrown in as well).
* Davis gets as much or more money than before.
* Maggette does, too.
* And perhaps Lue and O'Bryant get new homes.

Everybody's happy. Isn't that how deals are made?

We played architect for you, Mavs. Now go see if this is buildable according to the blueprint.

[your_dallas_mavericks]

David Lord is a genius. Is there anyway this post could be faxed to Donnie, Chris Mullin, and whomever is the GM in Clipperland these days? It makes a lot of sense.

If this series of sign and trades happen, I will totally be in a state of positive shock.

[catalyst]

great thinking. Unfortunately that usually gets ignored as ranting by a member of the media.

Kidd/Terry/JJB
Magette/Terry/Foster
Josh/george/Wright
Dirk/Pops/George
Damp/Diop/O'Bryant

Not a very strong defensive team unless Carlisle can motivate these guys. Great idea to get magette money and salvage GS and LAC

[Rand10]

Why would the Clippers want to give Maggette to a team they will be competing with for almost nothing? If they try to s&t him I'm sure they'll look to the eastern conference long before they come to us.

[Cyberstorm3000]

You forgot Green. And I would hope for Pape Sow as the 3rd center.

[hph6203]

Mavs could actually sign Bass for more than the MLE, without using the MLE.

Bass has been with the Mavs for one year, and with the next year coming up that will make two consecutive years that Bass has been with the Mavs, meaning the Mavs would own his early Bird rights and would have the ability to sign him to a contract of 175% of his previous contract or the MLE whichever is greater (AKA 10 mil per year max for Bass, which is more than anyone would pay for him).

[SaintofKillers]

Yup, and with the new "Arenas Rule", losing a 2nd round signing (or Early Bird guy) is next to impossible.

[Sken]

Early Bird rights amount to the same as the MLE. So next season Bass could be looking at $5.6 -6.0 million from Dallas. The "Arenas Rule" does not apply to Bass because he will have been in the league for more than 2 years when his contract comes up, so a team with cap space can sign him for more than the MLE/Early Bird limit and Dallas would not be able to beat that offer. The last thing to remember is that Bass will be an UFA at the end of the contract, so there is no guarantee that Dallas will even get an opportunity to match.

[dirkforpres]

I would definately do the trade. Ive given up on the front office though, so I really dont expect anything else to happen this summer. Aside from maybe Dan Dickau or Keith McLeod, this is your 2008/2009 Mavericks team IMO

[hph6203]

Early Bird rights amount to the same as the MLE. So next season Bass could be looking at $5.6 -6.0 million from Dallas. The "Arenas Rule" does not apply to Bass because he will have been in the league for more than 2 years when his contract comes up, so a team with cap space can sign him for more than the MLE/Early Bird limit and Dallas would not be able to beat that offer. The last thing to remember is that Bass will be an UFA at the end of the contract, so there is no guarantee that Dallas will even get an opportunity to match.

Ok, I read it wrong. Early bird is 175% of his salary, or the average salary. So 1.75x 800k or 5.8 mil. I read it as 1.75x 800k or 1.75x 5.8 mil.

Based upon that though, the mavs could easily retain Bass, because I HIGHLY doubt a team is going to sign Bass for more than 5.8 million. Especially when you consider that Maggette is looking at signing a contract for the MLE.

Anyway, another question about Bass. I know they signed Keith Van Horn for 2 years, but with a opt out clause after the first season. Could you offer that type of contract to Bass for the 2009 season, allowing him to opt out of his contract after the 2009 season and then sign a new contract for the 2010 season.


So:

2008: 800k
----New contract----: Signs 2 year contract at 5.8 mil (1st season) and 6.4 mil (2nd season) with an opt out clause after the first season
2009: 5.8 mil
-----Opt out New Contract---- : Signs new long term contract with Bird Rights.

[Sken]

The "option year" can only be in the last year of a contract. What Dallas did with KVH is put 2 non-guaranteed years on the 3 year contract. Yes Dallas could do that, but understand it would probably invoke visions of Joe Smith in the Stern's head if we did that.

It would amount to signing Bass to a one year deal to get him full Bird rights, then not guaranteeing the contract in order to pay him more money. The best bet would be to simply sign him to a two year deal with a player option (like the Eddie Jones contract). That way it would appear that the agent and the player dictated the negotiation process without the team being complicit.

[italy_23]

I still think maggette on dallas is a long shot.

[blyent]

I was bored an wanted to expand the idea a little bit.

Dallas Trades
Brandon Bass - to GS
Jason Terry - to GS
Jerry Stackhouse - to LAC
$3M - to GS
$3M - to LAC

LAC Trades
S\T Maggette - to Dallas
Tim Thomas - to Dallas
$3M - to GS

GS Trades
S\T - Baron Davis - to LAC
S\T - Pietrus or Barnes to Dallas
S\T - O'Bryant - to Dallas

Dallas has a great lineup that can actually compete for the championship. They have to pay $6M however they get rid of Terry's contract.

LAC - They get Baron and are able to keep Brand and get a vet SG to come off the bench in Stack.

GS - They don't lose Baron for nothing. They take on Jet's contract but since they get $6M its basically for 3 years instead of 4. Terry can backup Ellis which GS needs someone to do and play some SG in Nellie ball. Bass gives them a young athletic PF.

However, I'm not sure you can add that many S\T's in one trade. Multiple team deals like this never happen but its nice to dream.

[demcanes26]

GS might not want to get anything for Davis. If they let Davis walk, they can go after Hinrich in a trade with Chicago. Hinrich for Al Harrington works for both teams. Trading for Hinrich also lets GS keep their cap space to go after Josh Smith, or Okafor in FA. I don't think the Clippers would be paying Brand, and Davis, and using the MLE, and the LLE in the same summer. Remember this is Donald Sterling. So I don't see Maggette as a Mav this offseason.

[italy_23]

a lot of things have to go right if this should come through. but as you said, you were bored and had the time