Yeah I don't want to talk in circles... I get the penalty is on him... but he will do things that could hurt the on court to skirt the penalty (which is likely the outcome) and that is why fans care and pay attention to this stuff... just explaining the rationale. Very few owners spend into eternal tax and those owners are usually the title favorites or they were like the Warriors last year (guessing they'd like a refund on the Oubre deal).
I think he trusted that DL had a handle on things. Likely knew a tax bill was coming but that it wasn't going to be out of hand. Ryan can't micromanage everything... so you trust competent help. DL was either negligent, ignorant, or lazy with regard to his cap management. I think its part of the reason he's no longer in charge. The Tucker move was inconsistent... not sure they messed up the math... or knew the math and then decided to give themselves a shot at ducking the tax even though they knew it was likely impossible. The Tucker deal makes no sense unless you thought you were inching closer to ducking the tax. Call it whatever you like... the ****ed up and I feel like I was proven right since he got his walking papers (after the team was really successful nonetheless).
I think they will try to move money around the margins and jump on a deal to get off Favs salary with the pick as the incentive. I don't agree that it means Conley is gone... I think he gets a fair offer either way. I think if he comes back you don't use the taxpayer MLE unless something amazing comes around... and if it does I think you move Bogey or JC for a lower salaried player.
The Tucker deal showed gross incompotence and while I get what you're saying about feeling validated with DL's ousting, the guy who was running day to day and most of the FO is still here. Everyone in that FO who let it happen should be ashamed because messing up the numbers is not a one man job.
If I were running things, I'd try to move off of Bogey and Clarkson for younger and cheaper cost controlled players or draft picks. We had a two year window to compete, we failed, so now it's time to restructure as the focus should be DM's next contract. I just don't see us doing that, however, and it's also difficult to find those moves because the draft is before free agency. Teams that would want those players are looking to win now and probably have higher hopes for their space. Favors would be a salary dump situation to a bad team so it's much more realistic imo.
I think that the Jazz will have a good idea of where Conley sits before the draft. Maybe not, because they failed to get a good read on Hayward, but in theory the Jazz should be fairly certain if he's coming back or not. Negations start way before the moratorium. If they are picking for themselves on draft night I think it's a tell that they know Conley is not coming back because I don't think Smith will choose the pick over $90M and Favors. I just have a hard time seeing all the salary coming back, and Favors is the obvious place to cut it.