Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DanSchwartzgan]

If we go on the premise that the top eight are safe, which I think is pretty sound logic, I just don’t see how any of the names we are discussing could be possible. Even with the 2025 first, there’s not very much value in that package. It would be one thing if Kleber's contract was expiring, but he’s got another year left so part of that likely-to-be-late 1st’s value has to be viewed as payment for offloading that, I’d think. IDK…

What Washington got for Gafford seems similar to Maxi/2025. Holmes had another guaranteed year (with a PO) at the time of the trade and Washington took a pick that was guaranteed to be a late first in the upcoming draft.  

I don’t see Gafford as all that different from players we are discussing nor do I see Maxi as all that different than Holmes.  Throw in Hardy (I happened to use Exum in this case because of how the math worked out for adding a buyout player) and you now have a package that is even more attractive.

BTW, my list wasn’t meant to be exhaustive.  I was simply naming logical candidates who make between Maxi money and Avdija (who is about the most expensive player we can take back using Maxi/Powell/Exum while filling both open slots.  I didn’t even engage players making less than Maxi.  Heck, there is a world where we take back much less than the outgoing and get out of paying the tax this season.  That was the first think that crossed my mind when Kispert’s name was brought up.  Is this about Kispert the player or Kispert the contract?

[Mavs2021]

Holiday conspiracy. Our owner donated millions to Trump for a pro-Israel stance, maybe she wants the only NBA player from Israel and the guy named Zion. Sorry still Cuban damaged.

Seriously Avdija concerns me a bit, cause he´d be another non-shooter (at this moment), but otherwise he fits my target profile (age, contract, defense, versatile) very well. 

Not a fan of bringing back DFS, unless it´s for Kleber+Powell + the Philly 2nd that will only get worse from here. They´ll probably make the play-in as the 8th or 9th seed.

[F Gump]

Misc ....
1 Buyout player might be a dead end, because of the possible lack of desirable inventory. So I would not depend on that as my primary plan unless I knew something.
2 OTOH buyout signing can be cheaper, since it's typically after TDL when you pay much less for a minimum salary.
3 I don't think Mavs would prioritize finding a tax-ducking deal. Its time to win.
4 FWIW I dont see Kispert as worth a chase, and imo his contract is also undesirable starting next year.
5 My question about Coby White starts with availability, then with price, but eventually lands on fit. Two angles (1) this is a Luka-Kyrie team, so am I smart to invest heavily in another PG, it feels like maybe s move in the wrong direction, and (2) would I want Coby more than Grimes -- because I don't see room for a major role and money for both. That's a question of how you see Grimes, of need, of role, they arent quite the same but Mavs probably can afford 1 but not both. Grimes has a huge cost advantage since he's already here.
6 Maxi-Hardy for Coby-buyout works financially at TDL, but after I get all pumped about the finances, I cool off fast because it feels like I made my one great deal to fill a non-existent hole, and I may have also created a hole in the 4/5 mix to do so.
7 I hear POR really likes Advija, who they just got in a major trade. So while he fits the parameters of bad team and player with some value and reasonable contract that might fit Mavs payroll and trade match, I dont think he's really on the market at all, which is a vital part of the needed equation.

[MAVS-SLO]

Holiday conspiracy. Our owner donated millions to Trump for a pro-Israel stance, maybe she wants the only NBA player from Israel and the guy named Zion. Sorry still Cuban damaged.

Seriously Avdija concerns me a bit, cause he´d be another non-shooter (at this moment), but otherwise he fits my target profile (age, contract, defense, versatile) very well. 

Not a fan of bringing back DFS, unless it´s for Kleber+Powell + the Philly 2nd that will only get worse from here. They´ll probably make the play-in as the 8th or 9th seed.

Most of the trades posted are basically based on that

I would check how much Philly values their 2 pick and if they are interested in getting it back for Oubre.

With all their injuries i think they will go tanking sooner or later, so Oubre might be available for a cheap.

[mvossman]

Misc ....
1 Buyout player might be a dead end, because of the possible lack of desirable inventory. So I would not depend on that as my primary plan unless I knew something.
2 OTOH buyout signing can be cheaper, since it's typically after TDL when you pay much less for a minimum salary.
3 I don't think Mavs would prioritize finding a tax-ducking deal. Its time to win.
4 FWIW I dont see Kispert as worth a chase, and imo his contract is also undesirable starting next year.
5 My question about Coby White starts with availability, then with price, but eventually lands on fit. Two angles (1) this is a Luka-Kyrie team, so am I smart to invest heavily in another PG,  it feels like maybe s move in the wrong direction, and (2) would I want Coby more than Grimes -- because I don't see room for a major role and money for both. That's a question of how you see Grimes, of need, of role, they arent quite the same but Mavs probably can afford 1 but not both. Grimes has a huge cost advantage since he's already here.
6 Maxi-Hardy for Coby-buyout works financially at TDL, but after I get all pumped about the finances, I cool off fast because it feels like I made my one great deal to fill a non-existent hole, and I may have also created a hole in the 4/5 mix to do so.
7 I hear POR really likes Advija, who they just got in a major trade. So while he fits the parameters of bad team and player with some value and reasonable contract that might fit Mavs payroll and trade match, I dont think he's really on the market at all, which is a vital part of the needed equation.

Not just a third PG, but a defensively challenged one. He has been terrible on that end of the floor his entire career, even when the bulls were good. My hope has always been that the eventual kyrie replacement would be a better defender if not as elite offensively

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/m...67663.html


Butler and the Heat have a strained relationship
since Pat Riley's comments after last year's playoffs.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
Pat Riley statement: We usually don't comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore we will make it clear: We are not trading Jimmy Butler."

[BigDirk41]

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
Pat Riley statement: We usually don't comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore we will make it clear: We are not trading Jimmy Butler."

One of the best GM's ever talking there to drive up the price.

[RGP1981]

TrailBlazers get: Kyrie + future 1st round pick.

Mavericks get: Deni Avdija + Anfernee Simons.

I would do that.

• Luka (+Anfernee, Gortman)
  
• Anfernee (+Grimes. Use either depending on situation, i.e., more offense or defense needed.)
  
• Avdija (+Naji, O-Max)
  
• PJW (+Avdija, O-Max)
  
• Lively (+Gafford)
  

Or figure out a way to include Chicago in the deal... sending Kyrie to the Bulls, and with the Bulls sending Coby White + other players to Portland.

[F Gump]

TrailBlazers get: Kyrie + future 1st round pick.

Mavericks get: Deni Avdija + Anfernee Simons.

I would do that.

• Luka (+Anfernee, Gortman)
  
• Anfernee (+Grimes. Use either depending on situation, i.e., more offense or defense needed.)
  
• Avdija (+Naji, O-Max)
  
• PJW (+Avdija, O-Max)
  
• Lively (+Gafford)
  

Or figure out a way to include Chicago in the deal... sending Kyrie to the Bulls, and with the Bulls sending Coby White + other players to Portland.

LOL no, no, a thousand times no!

[SleepingHero]

TrailBlazers get: Kyrie + future 1st round pick.

Mavericks get: Deni Avdija + Anfernee Simons.

I would do that.

• Luka (+Anfernee, Gortman)
  
• Anfernee (+Grimes. Use either depending on situation, i.e., more offense or defense needed.)
  
• Avdija (+Naji, O-Max)
  
• PJW (+Avdija, O-Max)
  
• Lively (+Gafford)
  

Or figure out a way to include Chicago in the deal... sending Kyrie to the Bulls, and with the Bulls sending Coby White + other players to Portland.

It astounds me how you always find the most creative ways to nuke this team as fast possible.

[mvossman]

It astounds me how you always find the most creative ways to nuke this team as fast possible.

That trade makes no sense on so many levels.  We are adding a first to Kyrie?  We are already so deep we are struggling to get everyone minutes even with injuries, so we send out quality for quantity?  The tanking team is trading away young players to a contender for a 33 year old.  

Folks need to accept that this FO is not going to trade their big trade/free agent wins (Kyrie, Klay), especially when they are fitting so well.

[RGP1981]

It astounds me how you always find the most creative ways to nuke this team as fast possible.

Well, you guys usually agree with me around 6-12 months after I make suggestions. Like with Gafford and PJW, then Grimes, and now I'm seeing some love for Coby White too. So I guess I'm possibly #AheadOfTheCurve?

Anyway, I think that having Avdija + Anfernee is an overall upgrade to the squad's quality and depth... instead of having just Kyrie. Seems like the Mavericks are gonna need that to overcome the Celtics and Thunder.

That trade makes no sense on so many levels.  We are adding a first to Kyrie?

I threw the 1st round pick in there because they are 24-25yo while Kyrie is 32yo, so that seems fair from a value perspective... but I wouldn't complain if the FO could get this deal done without it, lol.

[KillerLeft]

I wonder if the recent terrible news about Luka will make the Mavs more likely to seek a trade or less?

[BigDirk41]

I wonder if the recent terrible news about Luka will make the Mavs more likely to seek a trade or less?

That's a damn good question and it's hard to know which way they will go. We also may not know everything. They may have more concern for his injury than letting on. Is this any different than when KD had calf soreness, came back for the finals and tore his achilles? Wasn't that the same kind of injury? They are going to be super cautious with their franchise player. They don't want next season to be lost also. This is a tricky situation and it may be a few months before we see Luka again. Will he look like Oliver Miller by then? Who knows.

[SleepingHero]

That's a damn good question and it's hard to know which way they will go. We also may not know everything. They may have more concern for his injury than letting on. Is this any different than when KD had calf soreness, came back for the finals and tore his achilles? Wasn't that the same kind of injury? They are going to be super cautious with their franchise player. They don't want next season to be lost also. This is a tricky situation and it may be a few months before we see Luka again. Will he look like Oliver Miller by then? Who knows.

The calf is a complex muscle and the correlation between it and an achilles injury is almost non-existent. I think KD is the only one to have such a problem. I don't think GSW's medical team would have ever sent him out there if they actually thought he was at risk for one of the worst injuries you could get in sports. 

Either way, this calf issue has been a lingering one for almost a year at this point and its about time Luka just sits.

[KillerLeft]

The calf is a complex muscle and the correlation between it and an achilles injury is almost non-existent. I think KD is the only one to have such a problem. I don't think GSW's medical team would have ever sent him out there if they actually thought he was at risk for one of the worst injuries you could get in sports. 

Either way, this calf issue has been a lingering one for almost a year at this point and its about time Luka just sits.

He needs to start “sitting” over the summers, at the expense of his national team, rather than at the expense if the team paying him north of $50 million per year to play, imho.

[surfpuckmd]

The calf is a complex muscle and the correlation between it and an achilles injury is almost non-existent. I think KD is the only one to have such a problem. I don't think GSW's medical team would have ever sent him out there if they actually thought he was at risk for one of the worst injuries you could get in sports. 

Either way, this calf issue has been a lingering one for almost a year at this point and its about time Luka just sits.

Just wanted to respectfully chime in a bit here.  

Although they're separate structures, the Achilles tendon and the calf cooperate with the same movements.  

Trying to play through a calf strain will increase the stress on the Achilles and will increase the risk of a tear.  An Achilles tear is fortunately a rare event either way so it would be unlikely.  

However, I think the Mavs recognize the danger here and that's why they've gone ahead and set at least a month off for Luka to rehab.  Hopefully, Luka sees this opportunity not only to rest his legs but also to learn to eat like a professional and consider his summer priorities.

[SleepingHero]

Just wanted to respectfully chime in a bit here.  

Although they're separate structures, the Achilles tendon and the calf cooperate with the same movements.  

Trying to play through a calf strain will increase the stress on the Achilles and will increase the risk of a tear.  An Achilles tear is fortunately a rare event either way so it would be unlikely.  

However, I think the Mavs recognize the danger here and that's why they've gone ahead and set at least a month off for Luka to rehab.  Hopefully, Luka sees this opportunity not only to rest his legs but also to learn to eat like a professional and consider his summer priorities.

Absolutely that the calf and the achilles are cooperative. I didn't mean to paint a picture otherwise. My main point was moreso historically a player who gets a calf strain usually never follows an achilles tear, with only 1 such example ever occurring.

Putting excess load by compensating due to a strain always leads to unnecessary stress and a higher likelihood of some sort of injury and I appreciate the Mavs are finally making sure Luka sits. 

As to whether the Mavs make a trade now, I think they are probably more likely to do it if they start to falter in January.

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral
@TheDunkCentral
The Memphis Grizzlies are a team to watch for Dorian Finney-Smith, per @TheSteinLine

“The Grizzlies have been described to me as a team to watch in the trade chase for Brooklyn's in-demand Dorian Finney-Smith. The Nets, league sources say, are likewise interested in Memphis'