Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

If Kleber, Hardy, and a 1st were enough, I imagine it’d be done already.


Gafford being in the deal doesn’t make sense for either side. I guess the Pelicans could route him somewhere else to get more value in the trade.

Hardy can't be traded this year.

Gafford makes all the sense in the world for NOP.  I'm sure they'd rather Lively.

Then again, the article states Jones isn't available, so this all academic

[Chicagojk]

I am against a big trade right now. I don't believe we have the assets any way for one. Although an injury could change my view. I think the Mavs are in an all in mode now. If they fall short this year, I expect them to be very aggressive this summer. OKC looks like they are going to be tough for several years. Boston obviously isn't going anywhere. Then you have some young teams coming up. SA is not ready yet, but things could change quickly if they find a way to get Fox from SAC.

With that being said, Can Nic Claxton be traded now? I don't think I would do this and i have no idea what the offer would be but would you trade Gafford, salary and a future first, and second for Claxton? Might be tough to tie up big money at C with Lively coming up in a few years. Claxton and Lively probably can't play together either. Just curious if that would interest anyone.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I know. I have to believe there is no way N.O. trades Herb Jones or Trey Murphy unless it's a slam dunk trade.

Yup, those are two that should bring back absolute stars if combined with Zion or Ingram.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I am against a big trade right now.  I don't believe we have the assets any way for one.  Although an injury could change my view.  I think the Mavs are in an all in mode now.  If they fall short this year, I expect them to be very aggressive this summer.    OKC looks like they are going to be tough for several years.  Boston obviously isn't going anywhere.  Then you have some young teams coming up.  SA is not ready yet, but things could change quickly if they find a way to get Fox from SAC. 

With that being said, Can Nic Claxton be traded now?  I don't think I would do this and i have no idea what the offer would be but would you trade Gafford, salary and a future first, and second for Claxton? Might be tough to tie up big money at C with Lively coming up in a few years.  Claxton and Lively probably can't play together either.    Just curious if that would interest anyone.

Do you think he's that big of an upgrade from Gafford?

IMO, our center rotation shouldn't be tampered with, especially if it's not a trade for a stud SF.  I mean trading for a C with Gafford is kinda just shifting parts.

[Chicagojk]

Do you think he's that big of an upgrade from Gafford?

IMO, our center rotation shouldn't be tampered with, especially if it's not a trade for a stud SF.  I mean trading for a C with Gafford is kinda just shifting parts.

I am not sure.  I don't think I would do it for the big dollars Claxton has coming to him.   In an ideal role, he would be a backup.  That is tough to pay as a backup with all the big $ we have.

I don't think he has Gafford's elite finishing, but is a good role man.  He is also a better, more flexible defender.

[F Gump]

I am against a big trade right now.  I don't believe we have the assets any way for one.  Although an injury could change my view.  I think the Mavs are in an all in mode now.  If they fall short this year, I expect them to be very aggressive this summer.    OKC looks like they are going to be tough for several years.  Boston obviously isn't going anywhere.  Then you have some young teams coming up.  SA is not ready yet, but things could change quickly if they find a way to get Fox from SAC. 

With that being said, Can Nic Claxton be traded now?  I don't think I would do this and i have no idea what the offer would be but would you trade Gafford, salary and a future first, and second for Claxton? Might be tough to tie up big money at C with Lively coming up in a few years.  Claxton and Lively probably can't play together either.    Just curious if that would interest anyone.

 
"Boston obviously isn't going anywhere." -- After this season, BOS may have to make considerable changes, even if they would rather not. I don't recall the exact numbers off the top of my head at the moment, but their payroll-plus-tax is heading to an absurd level that is not sustainable.

[Chicagojk]

 
"Boston obviously isn't going anywhere." -- After this season, BOS may have to make considerable changes, even if they would rather not. I don't recall the exact numbers off the top of my head at the moment, but their payroll-plus-tax is heading to an absurd level that is not sustainable.

That is fair.  They will certainly have tough decisions.   I just think with both Jaylen and Tatum in their prime, they are better positioned than most.  I also think they are a smart organization and have desirable players for the most part.  So while they will need to make tough decisions, I would bet on them being one of the top teams in the league for the next 4-5 years.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

 
"Boston obviously isn't going anywhere." -- After this season, BOS may have to make considerable changes, even if they would rather not. I don't recall the exact numbers off the top of my head at the moment, but their payroll-plus-tax is heading to an absurd level that is not sustainable.

They are projected to have a payroll of over $500 million for the 25-26 season. They already are $7.6 million over the second apron for 24-25. The second apron is set at $190 million for 24-25.  All this spending is why the franchise is up for sale.

[DallasMaverick]

They are projected to have a payroll of over $500 million for the 25-26 season. They already are $7.6 million over the second apron for 24-25. The second apron is set at $190 million for 24-25.  All this spending is why the franchise is up for sale.

Not sure the sale of the team is related to a big payroll.

I think they saw their championship banner and decided to pay whatever it took to “keep the gang together”.  The very thing the Mavs wouldn’t do in 2012.

Was it a wise choice?  Time will tell.

[KillerLeft]

Not sure the sale of the team is related to a big payroll.

I'm pretty sure it is, because of the hours and hours of content out there about it. I suppose all of the "experts" could be wrong, but the consensus is that the current owners (a father and son, if memory serves) have differing views of how to proceed, financially, and that at least one of them is hoping to sell the problem forward to avoid becoming the most hated man in Boston over the next few seasons. Sale motivations aside, everyone agrees that they're about to have to gut the team in the near future. It's not just about the money, you literally can't function as a team with the handicaps they're about to start racking up due to the cap rules.

[F Gump]

They are projected to have a payroll of over $500 million for the 25-26 season. They already are $7.6 million over the second apron for 24-25. The second apron is set at $190 million for 24-25.  All this spending is why the franchise is up for sale.

 
Yep. Even a billionaire who wants a good team will have issues with flushing all that tax money down the toilet. And what happens to their stomach for that sort of payroll if the Cavs or Bucks for example beat them in the playoffs and they don't even get to the Finals?

[Jym]

also shoutout to the Suns for the being in tax hell
they're scheduled to have a payroll around $500 million next year too right?
what a disaster

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I am not sure.  I don't think I would do it for the big dollars Claxton has coming to him.   In an ideal role, he would be a backup.  That is tough to pay as a backup with all the big $ we have.

I don't think he has Gafford's elite finishing, but is a good role man.  He is also a better, more flexible defender.

Hands down Claxton is a better/more versatile defender.  I just think our C rotation is set and is a HUGE competitive advantage.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Claxton at his best is a game changing defender. But I’m not sure we’ve seen him at his best for some time now. He’s had some injuries and maturity issues maybe. He is even less an offensive threat than Gafford though, so doesn’t solve the issue of 5-Out in a playoff context. I think PJ can do some of that but needs another bigger body next to him, especially if he’s our best POA defender is guarding away from the rim. I think that’s where the love of Herb comes in.

[SleepingHero]

Hardy can't be traded this year.

Gafford makes all the sense in the world for NOP.  I'm sure they'd rather Lively.

Then again, the article states Jones isn't available, so this all academic

Hardy CAN be traded this year, as he was a 2nd round pick, he does not have a training camp extension rule that prevents him from being traded.

I believed he couldn't be traded until FGump pointed it out to me and I had to read the CBA myself. No mention of 2nd round picks being barred from being trade eligible even if they extended during the season.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Hardy CAN be traded this year, as he was a 2nd round pick, he does not have a training camp extension rule that prevents him from being traded.

I believed he couldn't be traded until FGump pointed it out to me and I had to read the CBA myself. No mention of 2nd round picks being barred from being trade eligible even if they extended during the season.

By no means the system of record, but the fanspo trade machine states that he can't be traded this year.  Thanks for the knowledge!

It certainly opens up possibilities.

[SleepingHero]

By no means the system of record, but the fanspo trade machine states that he can't be traded this year.  Thanks for the knowledge!

It certainly opens up possibilities.

Right on. Im aware that Fanspo’s trade machine has that error, and I think it’s because they just have a blanket condition of “has X player signed recently?” And if so then it triggers that warning.

Hardy’s situation is very niche, so I can forgive them for not having this caveat in their machine. Honestly I wouldn’t have known had I not read it myself and if FGump didn’t clarify it for me.

As to whether Hardy’s inclusion to a trade changes anything, that I am not so sure of. I mean he’s obviously an asset and would be a nice sweetener, but his contract number does very little change in the grand scheme of things -at least for this season. 

What does inspire me is that we’ve had multiple reports that the Mavs are looking for an impact wing defender. They kept tabs on DFS. Apparently they called the Pelicans for Herb. AND we know that the most likely trades they can make will be for a guy(s) making up to around ~15 mil depending on who they’re trading. 

There are only so many guys that fit that scenario. And I wonder if we just go back to what worked well last year and call LAC for Flight 55.

[Chicagojk]

Windhorst] The Finney-Smith trade led to a bidding war between the Lakers and the Grizzlies, with hard feelings emanating from both the Grizzlies and the Nets for the way it played out.
Johnson has many more suitors, and the Nets have made it clear it will be a steeper price to get Johnson, league sources told ESPN.

One of the factors is that the Nets, currently projected to have more than $60 million in cap space next summer, are planning on going star searching either in free agency or by using that room to acquire a big name via trade. Brooklyn has made it known it sees Johnson as either a very good fit as a role player next to a star or an attractive player to use in a trade to get that star, sources said. The point being, the price is higher because the Nets don't have to trade Johnson.

[Chicagojk]

Windhorst] The Finney-Smith trade led to a bidding war between the Lakers and the Grizzlies, with hard feelings emanating from both the Grizzlies and the Nets for the way it played out.
Johnson has many more suitors, and the Nets have made it clear it will be a steeper price to get Johnson, league sources told ESPN.

One of the factors is that the Nets, currently projected to have more than $60 million in cap space next summer, are planning on going star searching either in free agency or by using that room to acquire a big name via trade. Brooklyn has made it known it sees Johnson as either a very good fit as a role player next to a star or an attractive player to use in a trade to get that star, sources said. The point being, the price is higher because the Nets don't have to trade Johnson.

Sounds like the Grizzles offer for DFS was a top 17 protected first and they wanted the Nets second round pick back as well.   Mavs could have competed with that.  Although not having a expiring to match may have put them out if they were interested at all.

[F Gump]

Right on. Im aware that Fanspo’s trade machine has that error, and I think it’s because they just have a blanket condition of “has X player signed recently?” And if so then it triggers that warning.

Hardy’s situation is very niche, so I can forgive them for not having this caveat in their machine. Honestly I wouldn’t have known had I not read it myself and if FGump didn’t clarify it for me.

As to whether Hardy’s inclusion to a trade changes anything, that I am not so sure of. I mean he’s obviously an asset and would be a nice sweetener, but his contract number does very little change in the grand scheme of things -at least for this season.

About Hardy, let's not lose sight of the mindset behind the extension. 

A "normal" payout on the extension would have made him impossible to trade until the end of the season, whereas the Mavs went to the trouble to do it in a way where he can be traded at any time. And he's also just a small contract this season, below the typical minimum salary, which might make him more desirable to another team.

Based on that, it's clear to me that the Mavs were working to create a desirable trade chip, with a cheap contract and a young player tied up on a small-ish deal for several seasons. Whether they did or not depends on how well he plays and the potential he shows. But I don't think they necessarily saw him as a keeper. And they might prefer not to be stuck with him on their payroll next season.