PhilBlackson wrote:ArthurVandelay wrote:PhilBlackson wrote:
Strongly disagree.
In no world is walking away with nothing better than something.
If the offers are crap, then it’s best to walk away and use the cap space this summer to facilitate trades or sign a FA or get creative like Indiana did with Turner.
Just as you’re making the assumption that we can just sign FAs when that’s never been our strong suit
I expressed this last year at the trade deadline, but a big part of Masai's (and Ainge's) brand is that they are virtually impossible to deal with. I loved that few days in the summer of 2018 between Vegas pegging the Raptors as the most likely Kawhi destination and the trade announcement, because I knew it meant the Spurs were demanding OG or Pascal - or BOTH according to some sources - and Masai was refusing to give in. DeMar was disposable, but he needed those guys to build the team around when Kawhi inevitably left.
OK, being a hardass at the trade deadline sometimes means your player walks for nothing. But "nothing" is a non existent concept in a soft cap league. Financial flexibility is an asset. Of course it's always helpful to stay under the tax threshold, even more so to create cap space. And when being a hardass works, you end up with RJ, IQ and a virtual first rounder, which can turn a franchise around.
Raps haven't been able to sign a big name FA (not counting Hedo) with cap space. But they have used it to their advantage. Picking up AD and Garbajosa in 2006, uh, turned the franchise around. Everyone remembers the picks that came back with Vasquez, but the fact that no salary came back allowed us to sign Cory Joseph. Maybe DeMarre Carroll didn't end up being the best signing, but before he got hurt he was one of the Hawks most useful players on their 60-win team.
So I'd happy if Pascal walked to be in the FA market to make offers to Malik Monk, Buddy Hield or Nic Claxton (if we can unload Jak's deal). And Masai keeps his reputation. If opposing GMs want one of our players, they better come correct.