i would, but i don't know if that will do it for them. you figure the biggest offer kennard or smart will get is full mle at full years, which is in the 4/60+ neighborhood. room exception is max 3 years with only 5% raises, and we only have one to give. so if we operate under the cap, one of them has to take that (assuming with PO on year 2 or 3--can't remember rules on how many and where these can occur), and the other would eat into space but could get something closer to that max mle that someone else could offer. operate over the cap, and smart's contract options are really limited (opt in or non-bird rights raise--not attractive). under the cap, giving smart a 10m per raise drops cap space to 38, with lebron still needing to be retained (and rui probably just walking). pray for the hot dog stand.
What's a cool name for Lebron version last dance special? Lakers give full access, walter buys into the production company, every Laker player gets residuals lol
More so then Luke, who i just went on how the fit and pairing isn't something he can get anywhere... even though every team can use a shooter, I don't think there's a lot of great options for Marcus on the market. He will and should get paid. But for him to be maximized, he should be on a playoff team where he can be the culture setter. I don't see the value in him going to a bottom feeder like when he was with Memphis or Washington where he's banged up in February, nursing a bad hip and back for them to only win 20 games. If you're going to kill yourself out there, you want it to be for something. So let's run through the teams: OKC - doesn't need him PHO - already have their captain in Brooks HOU - i mean, maybe DEN - don't see it MIN - sure SA - no POR - Holiday is that DET - they like physical, tough so... sure ORL - dumpster incoming CLE - no TOR - no NYK - Thibs would love him, so sure ATL - no BOS - bridge burned 6ers - no So 4 other teams and that's just on the surface without even considering their financial outlook or other roster needs. Hopefully long term security, as in making this his last stop, and a fair mid teens per year salary can do that. Will he take a little less than he should get this year to stay here, compete every year and retire here? Money is getting tight the longer these playoffs go on for, though.
only way to get him more than 6m per next year is to operate under the cap and give some of it to him. best bet right now is to get to him and kennard and explain that we can pay them both about 10 per next year and then use bird and early bird rights to give them raises the following year (when we're operating over the cap for sure due to reaves's big bump).
