I was just thinking about how the C's didn't sign a player to a 2-year non-guaranteed exception deal to use as salary in a Davis trade like many of us speculated might happen.
Maybe this has been brought up before, but I wonder if not signing somebody to that type of deal was to help locker room cohesiveness this year, make sure the team performs its best this year. 5 games into the playoffs the team is looking great.
But had the C's signed, let's say Greg Monroe to that 2-year, mid-level, non-guaranteed deal, every time Tatum or Brown sees him in the locker room, or on the bench, on the plane, etc. it's just a constant reminder that they're probably going to be traded in the off season. Everybody would know what that contract meant, that several guys are about to be shipped out come July. "We all know why you're here Greg, and it's not to help us in the playoffs!"
Not signing a player to that deal helps keep that situation out of sight, out of mind. Helps all the players remained focused on this year.
I'm probably reaching here, but it's just a thought. Not signing a player to that contract is helping the team make the most of their 2019 playoff run.