Trade & FA 2024-25:

[BigDirk41]

I'd also like to add that Klay would be going from the #2 option in GS to the #3 option in Dallas so his quality of shots will improve. Watching him last year, he took a lot of questionable shots trying to carry the load with Steph. I believe he will have way more wide open 3s in Dallas and will go back over 40% next season if here.

[SleepingHero]

Really interesting to see what Philly does.  If the Mavs were in their shoes, I would be thinking of the worst right now.  I wouldn’t trust committing to a Morey led team, but he typically finds a way to add talent.  Just not a lot out there.  Is a KcP, DeRozan and something else enough? 

Btw, they had one of my favorites drafts.  Even snagged a two way guy.  Morey just constantly finds value in the draft.

Philly is committing to Plan Powder.

Step 1) Let all your value FA leave while you wait for the big fish

Step 2) Keep the Powder dry while all your value FA's leave.

Step 3) Look for Value FA's on Expiring deals.

Rinse and repeat.

They're on step 2.

(Step 1 and Step 2 seem similar, because they are )

[Smitty]

I feel ya.  I can live with the versions of this where the decision is Klay for Green.  I think Klay makes us better during the rest of Kyrie's time here.

The one I struggle with is the versions of this where we simply trade Green to keep DJJ.  It is less clear to me that DJJ is better than Green.  I take some solace that Grimes fills the Green 'hole' and DJJ is the backup 3 behind Thompson.  But, it will sting a little.

Agree with this entirely!

I will say that DJJ is better today than Green, for what the Mavs need. If/When the Mavs trade Green - I expect he’ll have a breakout year in a role that’s more suited for his game.

[BigDirk41]

Klays ego is a big concern for me.

While I don’t care about who “starts”…see the Lively vs Gafford situation. I don’t think Klay can handle not starting and not closing. I think it’s a legitimate concern if you can win games with Luka, Kyrie, Klay together in the closing lineup.

If I knew Klay would be willing to be used as a chess piece, I’d feel a lot better about him.

I think Klay's "pride" might be a better term for this. He's a confident guy and future HOF player, but I don't think he has a large ego. He's an all time great, that is adjusting to just being a very good NBA player. I'm sure that's tough. GS sucked last year so it was probably hard for him to justify coming off the bench. Maybe he doesn't care on the defending Western Conference champs? Just a thought.

[SleepingHero]

Klays ego is a big concern for me.

While I don’t care about who “starts”…see the Lively vs Gafford situation. I don’t think Klay can handle not starting and not closing. I think it’s a legitimate concern if you can win games with Luka, Kyrie, Klay together in the closing lineup.

If I knew Klay would be willing to be used as a chess piece, I’d feel a lot better about him.

Can I ask where you're getting that Klay has a big ego?

I think he just wants to win. This last year he was trying to play for a contract and prove to everyone he was still "Klay"

He wanted to be made a priority by the Warriors and wasn't. I think that's where his issues lied.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
The latest Klay Thompson update via @wojespn indicates he’s likely to leave the Warriors:

There’s been little communication between Golden State and Thompson throughout this process, which includes no actual offer to him.

Thompson could be on the move via sign-and-trade, which allows Golden State to recoup an asset in return.

Thompson’s chances to re-sign with Golden State are “tenuous at best” entering free agency.


https://x.com/esidery/status/1807040138746446186?s=46&t=Fmdr94oXagcEyy75KJqaFg

[omahen]

I'm not sure what you were saying here, but 14,893,363 is the money that is left with 13 players accounted for, and DJJ is still unsigned. 

After subtracting 1M for an operating cushion, that leaves ~13.9M to allocate between some combo of DJJ (whose limit would be 12.9), the 15th slot, and a more-than-100% trade match.

Mavs salary for next season (THJ for Grimes trade already accounted) is 160.052 mil + 2.208 mil of McGee dead money, which is a bit over 162.2 mil. However, the allocations are calculated at 163.761 mil, so I assume there is one empty slot salary added to that. First apron minus 163.761 gives you the 14.89 mil space below the first apron. 

FA agent brought into that 14th spot would replace the empty slot salary, which means the actual available salary for the 14th guy is around 16.3 mil (this is the number Keith Smith mentioned). Take away 1 mil cushion and you are at 15.3 mil. If DJJ takes a couple of million below the max MLE, Mavs could get to over 17 mil of first year Thompson salary, if they only send Green out for air.

Source for all salary numbers is Spotrac:  Dallas Mavericks Multi-Year Table (spotrac.com)

Everything will come down to how much Thompson and DJJ will want on their deals, but I can see a scenario where only Green is needed to make things work. 

Personally I wouldn't make Thompson my prime target, but this Mavs earned the benefit of a doubt for me.

[dirkfansince1998]

With today's salaries, we'll just disagree on his value. Players make upwards of 60 million per year now. This isn't 5 years ago. 20 million for a guy that averages 18 PPG on super efficient catch and shoot 3s with high volume seems very reasonable. He's 34, not 37 or 38. His game isn't based on being a freak athlete. He catches and lets it rip 9 times a game from deep.

His offense isn't about athleticism but that isn't the topic of the conversation. The problem is his defense and it will only get worse and that is all about his athletic ability. If it wasn't for the name we would compare him to Buddy Hield or Duncan Robinson.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Sasha Vezenkov has left the Raptors to return overseas to Olympiacos, per @Sportando (https://sportando.basketball/en/sasha-ve...lympiacos/).

The 2023 EuroLeague MVP signed a four-year, $17.1 million deal re-joining the Greek powerhouse club.

[BigDirk41]

His offense isn't about athleticism but that isn't the topic of the conversation. The problem is his defense and it will only get worse and that is all about his athletic ability. If it wasn't for the name we would compare him to Buddy Hield or Duncan Robinson.

Hopefully Nico knows something we don't and believes Klay can still defend, but your defensive concerns are absolutely legit. I can't argue that at all. I do believe he's still a good team defender, but he's definitely lost lateral quickness.

[LukaMVP]

exactly, we don't pay a role player over 20m/yr even in today's market, and we don't pay him some extra millions just for his name. I guess something around 20m/yr is what the approvers and doubters can reach an agreement on, and a figure Klay should be signed for when the deal comes official.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Can I ask where you're getting that Klay has a big ego?

I think he just wants to win. This last year he was trying to play for a contract and prove to everyone he was still "Klay"

He wanted to be made a priority by the Warriors and wasn't. I think that's where his issues lied.

Bro he’s the biggest butthurt player in the NBA. Every time he has a bad game and someone starts talking smack, he starts to do the 4 rings thing. It’s a long running meme at this point. 

He turned down 2/48 from the Warriors because he still thinks he’s a star. Call it ego or pride or whatever word you want to use. He ain’t coming here to be used like THJ.

While I’m excited about his shooting, I think he could ruin the entire chemistry of this team. That’s why Golden State wants him out of there.

[SweetFidelia]

Brogdon = Oscar Martinez.  Whoever mentioned that is genius. Now I can’t unsee it.

I’m just not sold on the Klay idea yet. DJJ was the weakest link in the finals, and Kidd knew it.  His D could not offset the hole on O. On the flip side, they don’t get to the finals without him, and he was money in those first 3 rounds.  But, that is the spot to upgrade.  I still want DJJ back, but ideally not to start. Klay as a super 6th man, sure, but that’s a high price at the moment. Starting over PJ? Heck no. Starting at the 3? I’m not really good with that either. His mobility is cooked on the defensive end. It’s not a good trade off.

[DallasMaverick]

Clippers with Paul George and Warriors with Klay Thompson are in similar situations. An aging superstar that is still performing at a high level, but with some decline off their peak.

Both are demanding to be paid based on current performance.

Both teams are afraid to commit big dollars and years to high-risk players who’s contracts could clog their cap space for years to come.

Both players are loved by their teams and fan bases.

Both teams are also afraid of letting either player walk for nothing.

So? Both teams will get what they can, commit to some of their younger players, and hope for the best.

Oh, and whoever they can get back in trade has to be younger and cheaper.

All it takes is one team willing to give Klay his $25m.

I’m hoping that’s not the Mavs.

[BigDirk41]

I think there's way too much smoke for us not to be the team getting Klay. This seems way past rumors at this point. SH laid out a really well thought out plan of what might be going on. I believe Klay will be a Maverick once that move is allowed to be made. It will be part of the LAC / GS trade.

[Smitty]

Talk about ATB 3’s... He shot 597 of them last year! 39%
599 attempts the year before. 41%

Bringing this stat back with the Klay news. I was out yesterday and missed all the fuss. 

Mavs need better shooting above the break. Insert Klay.

[SleepingHero]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
ESPN Sources: The Orlando Magic are declining forward Joe Ingles’ $11 million team option but sides are expected to continue dialogue in free agency next week. Ingles, 36, will be entering his 11th NBA season.

[SleepingHero]

Bringing this stat back with the Klay news. I was out yesterday and missed all the fuss. 

Mavs need better shooting above the break. Insert Klay.

I tried fighting the good fight brother

[BigDirk41]

I tried fighting the good fight brother

Everyone just needs to get on Team Klay because it's happening.

[Smitty]

I tried fighting the good fight brother

It was a valiant effort.