Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Smitty]

I can see the need for bench 4 like some of you. But only in the regular season. The Mavs have the personnel and position versatility to play however they want in the playoffs. Maxi's 10-15 games he has left in him this season and O-Max getting some burn, is enough to keep PJ and Naji's minutes down till the playoffs. Once there, the Mavs can play however they want, without a Maxi/Omax/Trade.

Want 5-out? PJ is the 5. Easy!
Think Naji is too small at the 4? Luka is big. Easy!

[Chicagojk]

I can see the need for bench 4 like some of you. But only in the regular season. The Mavs have the personnel and position versatility to play however they want in the playoffs. Maxi's 10-15 games he has left in him this season and O-Max getting some burn, is enough to keep PJ and Naji's minutes down till the playoffs. Once there, the Mavs can play however they want, without a Maxi/Omax/Trade.

Want 5-out? PJ is the 5. Easy!
Think Naji is too small at the 4? Luka is big. Easy!

I think that is probably the Mavs thinking.  Unless an injury pops up prior to the trading deadline.  

Marshall can play some 4 and may steal some minutes there in a playoff series as minutes are tight as is.  Right now, Omax has his chance to play a little.  Not enough to really hurt you if he is not productive but enough for him to show he deserves those minutes.  Maxi can be closely monitored and try to have him right for a playoff run.   

As I said earlier, I am not sure it is worth it to use a remaining asset for a guy where the minutes are hard to find.   Although it is tricky.  Mavs are a contender and they need to move if they find a clear upgrade.  I just don't expect that to happn.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Milwaukee is shopping Portis looking for a rotation upgrade (probably at the wing). They are trying to win a title just like the Mavs. They don't want Maxi or Hardy.

[Mavs32]

looking around he league the only backup 4's that make sense are Portis and DFS (i know he is a wing but he is big enough to play small ball 4).

For Portis, involving a team like Brooklyn makes sense because you could send them Maxi and a second. Then send Exum to the Bucks. Brooklyn can send a cheaper wing to the Bucks like Zaire Williams or Shake Milton. The Bucks then improve their back court defense and depth. I think it is a hard sell but the point is invoilving a third team to take Maxi and provide the Bucks with depth.

As for DFS, it is as simple as Maxi/ Exum & Morris along with a couple seconds for DFS. Not sure what they want for him but they gave Schroeder away for 3 seconds so unless a team i desperate i don't see them getting a first. especially if DFS threatens to excercise his PO (i doubt he does but the threat will decrease his trade value).
If you wanted to get a third team in a DFS deal, Atlanta could easily turn Nance into Maxi and Exum. they get Nance's spiderman meme and more defensive depth in their backcourt. Brooklyn could try to dlip nance this year or let his money fall off the books and pick up a second or two for their trouble.

[KillerLeft]

looking around he league the only backup 4's that make sense are Portis and DFS (i know he is a wing but he is big enough to play small ball 4). 

For Portis, involving a team like Brooklyn makes sense because you could send them Maxi and a second.  Then send Exum to the Bucks.  Brooklyn can send a cheaper wing to the Bucks like Zaire Williams or Shake Milton.  The Bucks then improve their back court defense and depth.  I think it is a hard sell but the point is invoilving a third team to take Maxi and provide the Bucks with depth.

As for DFS, it is as simple as Maxi/ Exum & Morris along with a couple seconds for DFS.  Not sure what they want for him but they gave Schroeder away for 3 seconds so unless a team i desperate i don't see them getting a first.  especially if DFS threatens to excercise his PO (i doubt he does but the threat will decrease his trade value).
If you wanted to get a third team in a DFS deal, Atlanta could easily turn Nance into Maxi and Exum.  they get Nance's spiderman meme and more defensive depth in their backcourt.  Brooklyn could try to dlip nance this year or let his money fall off the books and pick up a second or two for their trouble.

Here's my take on the reality of this:

I have yet to see (maybe I missed it) anything remotely suggesting availability with Portis, who is a rotation piece on a team that just won the in-season cup and likely believes the best version of their season ends with a Championship (as delusional as we might think that is). Is Portis untouchable? Of course not, but they're not trading him for equal value to contender for the purposes of making said contender better. They'd 100% want something that improves THEIR team, talent wise, and that would 100% take the form of something the Mavs would have less than zero interest in doing. Like yeah, maybe if the conversation starts with Klay Thompson or Naji Marshall (haven't even thought of salaries, but that's not the point) then THAT might MAKE Portis available, but why on Earth would Dallas be interested in that when they have Kleber AND now O-Max playing this role just fine. Would you be willing to move Gafford for Portis? I suspect most wouldn't, and I don't know if that even gets Milwaukee interested in shaking their team up, honestly. 

DFS is VERY available, but they just lowered their asking price from two 1sts to 1, and they WILL get a 1st for him, because multiple teams will bid. Mix in the salaries that would have to go out (without diving in too deeply, this would almost have to include one of Kleber, Thompson or Gafford), and is the backup 4 REALLY worth that level of commitment, or would it be smarter to just let him go to a team that has a 28-32 minutes per night role in mind for him who will actually get a return on an investment like that? 

I would be very in favor of a DFS trade (or a Cam Johnson trade) if we found out tomorrow that PJ Washington is out for the season or something, but we're talking about 10 minutes per game on most nights, because there are ZERO minutes available at the 3 for him. This missing backup 4 is not the achilles heel this board is making it out to be, imho. It's a player that will probably not even be in the playoff rotation.

[KillerLeft]

Milwaukee is shopping Portis looking for a rotation upgrade (probably at the wing).  They are trying to win a title just like the Mavs.  They don't want Maxi or Hardy.

This, and I'm not even sure I buy the "is shopping" part, but might have missed it. 

If he is available, it won't be for matching salaries and draft capital, the way DFS can be had. And, it won't be for comparable players who "we hope they like better than him, because we like him better than the guys we want to send out." Milwaukee is very likely to be looking for a deal that sends someone like Portis, along with draft capital OUTGOING, to get a caliber of player that the Mavericks would never want to part with. The key to understanding this is that they're not looking to move Portis, they're looking to ADD something GREAT, and might be willing to give up Portis in that exchange because he's a bench piece. 

This is why trades don't happen between contenders. To acquire talent, you send FUTURE assets (draft capital) to BAD teams to get their players who are clearly being wasted in their current situations. That's how the Mavs got Porzings...Kyrie...Gafford...PJW...on and on the list goes.

[F Gump]

 1 I would be very in favor of a DFS trade (or a Cam Johnson trade) if we found out tomorrow that PJ Washington is out for the season or something, but we're talking about 10 minutes per game on most nights, because there are ZERO minutes available at the 3 for him. This missing backup 4 is not the achilles heel this board is making it out to be, imho. It's a player that will probably not even be in the playoff rotation.

2 This is why trades don't happen between contenders. To acquire talent, you send FUTURE assets (draft capital) to BAD teams to get their players who are clearly being wasted in their current situations. That's how the Mavs got Porzings...Kyrie...Gafford...PJW...on and on the list goes.

1 "we're talking about 10 minutes per game on most nights" -- Great point, which keeps getting overlooked. However, I do think that 10-15 minute slot does not go away in the playoffs, because I don't think their 5's or their 3's are very good at the 4. At least, not so far (and I have no belief that will change). They need a player who can defend big/bigger players, and make 3s, and hopefully Kleber and/or Omax will work.

2 That's a good point. In light of that, if we are perusing teams who are going nowhere, are there any players who might make a good target?

SIDE NOTE: About that search, I don't agree with the idea that the Mavs would be looking for a "defender" as some have theorized. Why not? Because you really can't play that guy in the playoffs (which defeats the purpose of getting them in the first place, for a team like this). In playoff-level games, players with good defense MUST also have enough offensive skill in order to keep the defense honest, rather than simply ignoring that 1 player and constantly doubling Luke (or the ball) and bogging down the skill players.

IOW if they are trying to upgrade the roster, imo the Mavs would ONLY look for players with some level of 2-way potential. They don't have to be great on both ends, but they have to be able to contribute reliably. And it seems to me that's what they are trying to develop with the players they already have -- increase their skills where they lack (either offense or defense) rather than accept one-way play. Kidd always pushes hard for defense because that's what most players don't want to do.

The good thing about that is that if they do add a player who is good enough on both ends, I believe he WILL be useful and get more minutes than seem to be available, which can help in lots of ways.

[Jason Terry]

Mavs get: DFS and a couple future 2nds

Nets get: Naji, Powell, Hardy and our 2025 FRP

I like Naji, but he’s shooting 30% from 3. Playoff time that’s a problem. Dorian is more the ideal 3/4 hybrid fit we need

Biggest need generally speaking is perimeter defense. Dorian helps with that too

[Mavs2021]

LOL at Simons dropping 28 with 10 assists to sink the Nuggets in the most "Lavine? Please take me out of this hellhole for half the money"-game ever.

[F Gump]

Mavs get: DFS and a couple future 2nds

Nets get: Naji, Powell, Hardy and our 2025 FRP

Hard cap doesn't allow that. To stay under the hard cap it takes outgoing of dollar-for-dollar PLUS cap room to fill the salary slots of every extra player, so that's about 3-4M short. And NJ would have to waive 2 players, which they won't like either.

Adding extra minimum salary players (such as Hardy) doesn't really help the math, as you end up having to sign a minimum salary player to fill that extra empty slot.

However, including Naji would make a chunk of minutes available for DFS, so it works from that angle.

A Maxi-Powell-Exum package or something like that comes close on the cap math (which is fuzzied a bit by how and when you fill empty slots). However that may leave the depth too thin at C, and doesn't offer a good path to enough minutes for DFS.

If including a FRP, I want a 2nd for a future year (not 2025) in return. BKN has plenty.

[Knutsen]

Mavs get: DFS and a couple future 2nds

Nets get: Naji, Powell, Hardy and our 2025 FRP

I like Naji, but he’s shooting 30% from 3. Playoff time that’s a problem. Dorian is more the ideal 3/4 hybrid fit we need

Biggest need generally speaking is perimeter defense. Dorian helps with that too

Give him some time, his three is coming around - maybe he’s the new Reggie Bullock, who also couldn’t shoot at the beginning of the season and then became deadly.

In his last 7 games he hit 14 of 29 threes, which means 2 a game at a 48% clip. 

I like DFS, but Naji is a gamer - when he fully learned how to play off of Luka, Kyrie and Klay he could be our secret sauce to scoring efficiently against the very best defenses of the Celtics, Thunder or Cavs.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Honestly, I wouldn’t give up either one of Naji or 2025 1st for DFS and I love the guy. He has a player option too, so we could feasibly lose him for nothing. Though I doubt that would happen, he probably wants to be a starter for another couple years and I don’t see PJ or Klay leaving the starting 5 anytime soon.

As Knutsen pointed out above, we really need Nani’s handles, playmaking and mid range game. Doe provides next to none of that.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Mavericks are a team to watch as buyers on the trade market.

Dallas has shown a willingness to discuss draft compensation in exploratory talks to land an impact addition.

Keep an eye on the Mavericks’ 2025 first-round pick potentially being used before the deadline.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Trail Blazers are fielding trade offers for reserve big man Duop Reath.

Under contract through 2025-26 at only $2 million annually, any contending team in need of center depth could utilize Reath’s skill set.

Portland’s center rotation hasn’t allowed Reath opportunities.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Mavericks are a team to watch as buyers on the trade market.

Dallas has shown a willingness to discuss draft compensation in exploratory talks to land an impact addition.

Keep an eye on the Mavericks’ 2025 first-round pick potentially being used before the deadline.

This rumor has surprised me. 

Not only is it kind of difficult to match salaries, but the Mavs being willing to trade a first jumped off the screen for me. Who could they be targeting??

[KillerLeft]

This rumor has surprised me. 

Not only is it kind of difficult to match salaries, but the Mavs being willing to trade a first jumped off the screen for me. Who could they be targeting??

Yeah, not sure I buy it.

[F Gump]

This rumor has surprised me. 

Not only is it kind of difficult to match salaries, but the Mavs being willing to trade a first jumped off the screen for me. Who could they be targeting??

Yeah, just finding a "who" that seems to make sense from the various angles is a real challenge. What hole would they want to fill, that's big enough where spending the cost and carving out the minutes for an "impact addition" would be seen as worth it? And who is the player that fits?

I have less issues with the idea of them trading away the 2025 1st. It's a very low first-rounder (in the mid 20s) who presumably will need plenty of development minutes (drafted that low, not likely to get a finished product, although it's not entirely impossible), and do they want to invest? Do they even have the roster spot for the guy? Or will they be more open to keeping their 2nd (currently about 37)? I actually think they will end up with only one pick at most, whether that means selling, combining in a trade for a move up, swapping 2025 pick for future 1st, or something else, so using in a trade for a needed player to me fits that sort of mindset.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

The only possible upgrades I can see are the Dinwiddie role (microwave bench scorer/quarterback) and the Maxi role (stretch 4/5 that can defend the rim as well as in space some). Guys like Simons and Grant make too much and it’s hard to salary match. And they probably want a starting role.

Is Isaiah Stewart worth a 1st rd pick? Probably not. He’s more of a 5 who can play some 4, to me. DFS would upgrade our rotation but minutes are tight and I’m sure he wants to get one last payday. Hard to get that playing 20 minutes per game. Cam Johnson we probably don’t have the assets for.

Herb Jones would be first choice (possibly the best defender in the entire league) but he just may not be available.
Bogdanovic makes too much $ and it’s hard to match salaries without gutting depth at another spot.
Guy on The Ringer mentioned Harrison Barnes who is having a great year and shooting over 40% from 3.

Any one else have any ideas? Adding Gafford really opens up some trade possibilities. I just see that happening without a real difference maker coming back in return.

[BigDirk41]

Mavs get: DFS and a couple future 2nds

Nets get: Naji, Powell, Hardy and our 2025 FRP

I like Naji, but he’s shooting 30% from 3. Playoff time that’s a problem. Dorian is more the ideal 3/4 hybrid fit we need

Biggest need generally speaking is perimeter defense. Dorian helps with that too

I wouldn't include Naji or a #1 for DFS. I like DFS, but not at that price.

[Mavs2021]

Trade Machine is happy with

White 12M for Kleber 11M
Kleber + Exum + Powell 18M for White + Smith 20.5M

Simons + Reath 27.8M for Gafford + Kleber + Powell 28.3M

but I still doubt those are legal.