Except “elimination” isn’t “elimination” it is simply taking to game into round two.
Cruz has been working the delegate ground game and Trump has not. If Cruz wins 388 + 1 more delegate then Trump is toast. The Trump campaign is in disarray. If Trump can reach the 1237, good for him... he wins. If he doesn’t, he has no fall back plan. Really poor campaign planning on his part.
If Trump is half as good at the deal as he thinks he is, he would make the deal now. If he lets Cruz win more delegates then it will reach a point where Cruz has no motive to deal because Trump will have burned the bridges and have nothing to offer. The time to make a deal is right now before it is certain which strategy will prevail.
Have some more KoolAid.