Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

That's your opinion. You're entitled to it. I beg to differ. PJ is 26, Portis 28. Big difference? Not really. How do you know how he'll fit next to Luka, and Ky? He might not be better as a defender, but he's a much better scorer and rebounder.

Portis isn't 10% the defender that PJ is.  Portis would be ideal to replace Maxi.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Portis isn't 10% the defender that PJ is.  Portis would be ideal to replace Maxi.

Correct. He can play the 4 or the 5

[michaeltex]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Bucks have gauged the trade market on Bobby Portis to find rotational upgrades.

With Milwaukee over the second apron, they can’t take back salaries totaling more than Portis’ $12.6 million.

Portis is averaging 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 36.7% on threes.

So a Maxi for Portis trade works? $11M vs 12.6M? Saves MIL salary and tax $$ and DAL gets a younger big to more reliably fill the #2 PF position, with maybe some small ball C?

Sounds easy, but it never is.

[SleepingHero]

So a Maxi for Portis trade works? $11M vs 12.6M? Saves MIL salary and tax $$ and DAL gets a younger big to more reliably fill the #2 PF position, with maybe some small ball C?

Sounds easy, but it never is.

Not quite. Mavs have about 530k of room to play with in a trade. They'd need to send out at least one other contract to make up the difference. BUT because MIL is a 2nd apron team, they cannot do a trade where they receive more salary than they are sending out. To make things even more complicated, MIL can't make any trade where they send 2 players (or more) at once. Mavs only limit is the 1st apron this year (which is 178.1) in which they cannot cross that line at all.

So any hypothetical trade involving the Mavs would have to be a 3 team trade, where the Mavs send Maxi to MIL, someone else (like Hardy) to another team, and the Mavs receive Portis.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery) on X
The Wizards are believed to have lowered their asking price in trade talks on Kyle Kuzma.

Washington held out for two first-round picks last year, but the belief is it might only take one pick and a prospect.

The Heat, Kings and Lakers are among teams showing interest in Kuzma.

[KillerLeft]

Not quite. Mavs have about 530k of room to play with in a trade. They'd need to send out at least one other contract to make up the difference. BUT because MIL is a 2nd apron team, they cannot do a trade where they receive more salary than they are sending out. To make things even more complicated, MIL can't make any trade where they send 2 players (or more) at once. Mavs only limit is the 1st apron this year (which is 178.1) in which they cannot cross that line at all.

So any hypothetical trade involving the Mavs would have to be a 3 team trade, where the Mavs send Maxi to MIL, someone else (like Hardy) to another team, and the Mavs receive Portis.

Just more evidence that for once, a trade like this, the type we usually obsess about for months, is neither likely nor even needed. I don't know what we're going to do with our time during trade season.

[SleepingHero]

Just more evidence that for once, a trade like this, the type we usually obsess about for months, is neither likely nor even needed. I don't know what we're going to do with our time during trade season.

I agree that a Portis level trade isn't necessarily needed/likely, but from a pure talent perspective, getting Portis for Maxi+Hardy (or Exum/Powell) is a no brainer. He's been a top 6-MOY candidate for the last 4 years. He's been a 10ppg stretch big with pretty solid defense. I can see why Nico was interested in him and I can still see the fit now as a backup big.

As much as I want OMax to take that next step, I can't rationally say he's ready for big time minutes on a championship level team. He will get there one day. But if the Mavs are serious about winning, it's time to load up with good vets. Portis qualifies as that AND he's only 29. 

Again, I'm not pining for this trade, but it makes sense.

[Jym]

a Portis trade made more sense for both sides when we were going to give up a quality future 1st rounder and he was going to start for us
the asset versus role ratio is off now

[SleepingHero]

a Portis trade made more sense for both sides when we were going to give up a quality future 1st rounder and he was going to start for us
the asset versus role ratio is off now

Portis has never been a starter player for his entire career though? He's always been a 25mpg big off the bench, wherein the last 4 years he's been top 3 in 6th man of the year voting twice with averages of 14/9 on 49% FG and 39% from 3. 

I don't see the assets for MIL though. I don't see why they'd want Maxi in place of Portis.

So I guess I'm just arguing a moot point anyways.

[Chicagojk]

I don't see a trade for the Mavs this year. An injury would change that, but right now there is not a lot of minutes to be had.

PF depth is a question mark. IMO, this is a huge opp for Omax. He probably isn't going to get rotation minutes in a tough playoff series, but can he play 12-15 minutes a night. That is all we really need. Tell Maxi to take his time getting healthy and even when he is back, his minutes will be monitored very closely and Omax may get some of those minutes. Maybe if you play thee games a week, Omax gets 1-2 of those games?

I have long thought DFS would be back here, but with the recent moves there really isn't a big enough role for him. Would I give up good assets a guy who is going to have trouble to play more than 15 minutes a night. I would not at this stage. This offseason could be a different story.

[Jym]

Portis has never been a starter player for his entire career though? He's always been a 25mpg big off the bench, wherein the last 4 years he's been top 3 in 6th man of the year voting twice with averages of 14/9 on 49% FG and 39% from 3. 

I don't see the assets for MIL though. I don't see why they'd want Maxi in place of Portis.

So I guess I'm just arguing a moot point anyways.

he absolutely can start for a lot of teams, including us last year if we traded for him
but Washington is a better fit so I'm glad we went that route

[Chicagojk]

hmm...didn't realize John Collins is shooting almost 50, 40, 90 for the year. Big salary and playing for a horrible team. I wonder what teams would be interested in him. I think a team like Milwaukee would fit, but just don't think there is a match there.

[Chicagojk]

I don't see a trade for the Mavs this year.  An injury would change that, but right now there is not a lot of minutes to be had. 

PF depth is a question mark.  IMO, this is a huge opp for Omax.  He probably isn't going to get rotation minutes in a tough playoff series, but can he play 12-15 minutes a night.  That is all we really need.  Tell Maxi to take his time getting healthy and even when he is back, his minutes will be monitored very closely and Omax may get some of those minutes.  Maybe if you play thee games a week, Omax gets 1-2 of those games?

I have long thought DFS would be back here, but with the recent moves there really isn't a big enough role for him.  Would I give up good assets a guy who is going to have trouble to play more than 15 minutes a night.  I would not at this stage.  This offseason could be a different story.

Maybe Thybule.  Second round pick and a guy like Maxi?   Probably not enough minutes here though, but  I could see a move similar to add depth on guys who can defend.

[JamesConway912]

I’ve been saying it for a while: stretch big is still a need. Right now we can’t really play five out. Not until Kleber remembers how to shoot a basketball.

That and improved backup PG. Fortunately the latter seems pretty much resolved right now due to Dinwiddie‘s pickup in performances.

Ideally Lively learns to shoot the three but that appears to still be a work in progress.

[JamesConway912]

For now I’d probably just keep praying that Omax really is a rotation player and continue to plug him into games for 12-15 minutes every night until we reach the trade deadline and hopefully have a clear idea on how dependable he is. If he can turn into the backup PF that would be a great help over the upcoming years for roster building purposes.

Then I would not hesitate to start dangling Gafford for a stretch five. Naz Reid is ideal, perfectly suited as a bench guy, sniper from three, only 25 and his contract situation might make Minny want to move him (player option for the upcoming season so he could become an UFA). You’d risk loosing him in FA but that’s where I’d hope for additional recruiting success. It’s certainly a risky thing though.

Other than that I don’t have a lot of names yet. Portis seems like a good idea as well.

[KillerLeft]

I agree that a Portis level trade isn't necessarily needed/likely, but from a pure talent perspective, getting Portis for Maxi+Hardy (or Exum/Powell) is a no brainer. He's been a top 6-MOY candidate for the last 4 years. He's been a 10ppg stretch big with pretty solid defense. I can see why Nico was interested in him and I can still see the fit now as a backup big.

As much as I want OMax to take that next step, I can't rationally say he's ready for big time minutes on a championship level team. He will get there one day. But if the Mavs are serious about winning, it's time to load up with good vets. Portis qualifies as that AND he's only 29. 

Again, I'm not pining for this trade, but it makes sense.

Not sure it does make sense. For either team, really, given how good Kleber is still when he plays (which has been a lot so far this season) and the hopes the Mavs seem to have for Hardy, but more importantly, what's the carrot for Milwaukee? They're trying to win a championship, too.

[SleepingHero]

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/202...e-nuggets/

"According to Troy Jones and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Denver Nuggets have taken a close look at the Chicago Bulls’ two-time All-Star. LaVine has reportedly become a major part of their recent conversations as they look to strengthen their core around superstar Nikola Jokic.

Here is what the two reporters shared:

“As a result, the Nuggets have either expressed interest in, or have had preliminary trade discussions on the following players: Chicago’s Zach Lavine, Washington’s Jordan Poole, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas.

League sources say the focus on LaVine in recent discussions is significant, with the Nuggets interested in the 29-year-old who is averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. LaVine, a two-time All-Star, is owed $43 million this season, $45.9 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 campaign.“

[SleepingHero]

DEN can get to Lavine's money really easily by packaging up MPJ+Zeke Naji

[Dundalis]

IMO any move for a backup 4 should have much more emphasis on defensive skillset than offensive. I think there are guys on the team, particularly the newest additions that have more offensive upside than we have seen so far that should progress even more as the season goes on. It's our defense that I think has more of a limiting ceiling than our offense.

[KillerLeft]

IMO any move for a backup 4 should have much more emphasis on defensive skillset than offensive. I think there are guys on the team, particularly the newest additions that have more offensive upside than we have seen so far that should progress even more as the season goes on. It's our defense that I think has more of a limiting ceiling than our offense.

I agree, with the arrival of Thompson, Marshall and Grimes, and with Gafford coming off the bench...IF Luka and Kyrie are playing like Luka and Kyrie. 

Since we both think the remaining big spots should be defensive oriented, it's pretty tough for me to envision a deal the Mavs would like that would bring in a better defender than Kleber or O-Max. O-Max showing signs of playability, even limited playability, really moves the needle for me.