Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I'm OK with moving on from DFS. I think he's one notch in position from being our biggest need: Maxi replacement.

I would love Obi Toppin. Definitely makes us more athletic, is more of a PF/C than a SF/PF, is fitting with our timeline at 26yo, and his outside shot is finding its form from last year.

Maxi/Hardy should work. Depends on how much juice Rick still has with the FO and whether he'd see Maxi/Hardy as more valuable.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

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.

Appreciate your knowledge of the CBA

[Chicagojk]

I'm OK with moving on from DFS.  I think he's one notch in position from being our biggest need: Maxi replacement.

I would love Obi Toppin.  Definitely makes us more athletic, is more of a PF/C than a SF/PF, is fitting with our timeline at 26yo, and his outside shot is finding its form from last year.

Maxi/Hardy should work.  Depends on how much juice Rick still has with the FO and whether he'd see Maxi/Hardy as more valuable.

I am ok with moving on from DFS as well at this point.  When everyone is healthy, minutes would be impossible to dole out imo.   I really want to see this team healthy.    If they are healthy and fail in the playoffs, I think we are very aggressive in the offseason.   

I am not sure Toppin fits though.  I believe he is not a good defender.  I think I would look for someone else.  Although some may disagree.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Hornets are receiving trade interest from teams on Cody Martin and Nick Richards.

Martin and Richards are on affordable contracts through 2025-26, which makes them very appealing targets to contenders in exchange for second-round draft capital.

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral
@TheDunkCentral
The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly open to discussing CJ McCollum’s future, per @BrettSiegelNBA

“The Pelicans have expressed a level of openness with teams around the league to discuss McCollum's future, sources said. The veteran guard is making $33.3 million this season

[Chicagojk]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
The Hornets are receiving trade interest from teams on Cody Martin and Nick Richards.

Martin and Richards are on affordable contracts through 2025-26, which makes them very appealing targets to contenders in exchange for second-round draft capital.

Richards was the caliber level center I was interested before the Gafford trade.  Gafford is the superior player.  i would think Richards would have interest though...even in this heavily saturated center market.  

PHX is obviously a candidate and they will continue down the path of all in with a .500 team.   Nurkic for Richards and injured Grant Williiams?  That works, but I have no idea why Charlotte would want two more years of Nurkic.

[Chicagojk]

NBACentral
@TheDunkCentral
The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly open to discussing CJ McCollum’s future, per @BrettSiegelNBA

“The Pelicans have expressed a level of openness with teams around the league to discuss McCollum's future, sources said. The veteran guard is making $33.3 million this season

I can't imagine those are very fruitful conversations.   I guess he has only one more year after this year though.   It is just tough to see a team trading for him making 30 million.   You certainly would not get a good asset for him.  

I would expect the Pelicans are going to look to move CJ and Ingram.   I would also be ok moving Murray as well.  Maybe Zion if they get a good offer, but I expect he is giving another year.   Next year, they can recoup and see how it all fits.   They have good talent.   They just lack the star....and health overall.

[SleepingHero]

I can't imagine those are very fruitful conversations.   I guess he has only one more year after this year though.   It is just tough to see a team trading for him making 30 million.   You certainly would not get a good asset for him.  

I would expect the Pelicans are going to look to move CJ and Ingram.   I would also be ok moving Murray as well.  Maybe Zion if they get a good offer, but I expect he is giving another year.   Next year, they can recoup and see how it all fits.   They have good talent.   They just lack the star....and health overall.

I'm not sure there is a good team out there that is pining for McCollum. I mean heck, he'd be great 6th man here, but his contract makes it that any competitive team can't really trade for the guy without gutting their roster. If he was 10 mil cheaper he'd be a huge asset.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

For those who'd like to trade Gafford..

Backup Cs are dime a dozen so they say, but Gaff has fit seamlessly (at least on offense) with the Mavs and has been superior to DLive in finishing. It helps too that Gaff can block shots and body up on muscle men, so at the very least he isn't as useless on D as some of you are saying.

IMHO, Gaff isn't just an ordinary backup C you can get so easily. He can start for most teams. As far as centers go, I'm not ready for the Mavs to have Drummond types as the backup C, specially with DLive's track record of being in and out due to various injuries.

BUT..

Let me just offer you a replacement for Maxi who could also replace Gaff (although I would prefer not trading Gaff, at least not this season).

Maxi+Hardy for Jalen Smith.

[BigDirk41]

For those who'd like to trade Gafford..

Backup Cs are dime a dozen so they say, but Gaff has fit seamlessly (at least on offense) with the Mavs and has been superior to DLive in finishing. It helps too that Gaff can block shots and body up on muscle men, so at the very least he isn't as useless on D as some of you are saying.

IMHO, Gaff isn't just an ordinary backup C you can get so easily. He can start for most teams. As far as centers go, I'm not ready for the Mavs to have Drummond types as the backup C, specially with DLive's track record of being in and out due to various injuries.

BUT..

Let me just offer you a replacement for Maxi who could also replace Gaff (although I would prefer not trading Gaff, at least not this season).

Maxi+Hardy for Jalen Smith.

I would also add that Lively didn't make the jump a lot of us expected this year. He's still an impact player when he's on the court, but his numbers haven't increased much. He has more offense to his game now, but doesn't use it for whatever reason. Last but not least, he has a little more Tyson Chandler in him than we thought. Chandler couldn't stay healthy early in his career either. I think Lively misses way too much time to get rid of Gafford. I think the center combo needs to stay. Make changes elsewhere.

[DL2RimRocker]

I would also add that Lively didn't make the jump a lot of us expected this year. He's still an impact player when he's on the court, but his numbers haven't increased much. He has more offense to his game now, but doesn't use it for whatever reason. Last but not least, he has a little more Tyson Chandler in him than we thought. Chandler couldn't stay healthy early in his career either. I think Lively misses way too much time to get rid of Gafford. I think the center combo needs to stay. Make changes elsewhere.

Yeah, I'm a little disappointed in Lively and OMax for not stepping up.
Both look to have incredible potential but for some reason they just aren't taking their games to the next level respectively.

Lively is just too injury prone and OMax seems to be going down the same path as Green in terms of development.
Lively will always be an impact to some degree, but my hopes for OMax was to develop similar as DFS and at least make the rotation this year.
I still blame Kidd for some of that lack of development though because OMax doesn't seem to get enough of an opportunity to play through his mistakes.

[BigDirk41]

Yeah, I'm a little disappointed in Lively and OMax for not stepping up.
Both look to have incredible potential but for some reason they just aren't taking their games to the next level respectively.

Lively is just too injury prone and OMax seems to be going down the same path as Green in terms of development.
Lively will always be an impact to some degree, but my hopes for OMax was to develop similar as DFS and at least make the rotation this year.
I still blame Kidd for some of that lack of development though because OMax doesn't seem to get enough of an opportunity to play through his mistakes.

I've never been a believer in Omax, but I definitely want him to succeed. I just don't see him ever being a rotation piece. I am definitely ok with trading him if he still has value around the league. Unfortunately, I feel like Omax is one of Nico's rare misses. He has a high motor and great length. He should be much further along than he is.

[Chicagojk]

I've never been a believer in Omax, but I definitely want him to succeed. I just don't see him ever being a rotation piece. I am definitely ok with trading him if he still has value around the league. Unfortunately, I feel like Omax is one of Nico's rare misses. He has a high motor and great length. He should be much further along than he is.

Yeah, it is tough to put into words what i think he is missing.   Something just appears a tick off.  Sometimes it hits one day with these type of players, sometimes it never does.

I think he is not nearly as good as defender that some think.   He has the ability to be a good defender.   He just seems a tick slow on rotations.  This is a killer.   For a player of his level, he needs to hit his rotations to have any hope to get minutes.  For young players, if coaches feel confident you can play their defensive scheme, this will allow you to get time to figure the rest out.   

 I want a player who just does stuff.  Especially at his role.   Deflections, bumping players causing frustrations, being a pest, etc.  From what I see with Omax he seems confused of the play.  He sort of just gallops to the corner when the play is in process and then sort of twitches in place.   He should be at his best just doing stuff.   His college highlights are filled with cuts off the ball, hitting wide open threes, the occasional pump and drive.   I just don't know if the game is too fast for him or if this is what he is.

I didn't watch him in college, but I loved his scouting film.    So maybe this was always there because there are times he makes an eye opening play but then disappears for the next several minutes.   

I think he is the exact length, skill, personality, and worker that should be perfect here.  We just haven't seen the growth yet.  As a three year college player and his second year in the NBA, he should be further along.  That is a little concerning.

[DL2RimRocker]

I'm beginning to think OMax just has a low BBIQ and basically hit his ceiling thr day we drafted him.

[DanSchwartzgan]

There is reporting out there on the Smoking Cuban about DFS and a possible return this summer.  I actually don't think that was the most interesting thing about the article.  Nor, do I think a comparison of what we might have offered versus what LAL gave from him to be all that fascinating.  Our first versus 3 LA seconds?  I think the real issue was Maxi's contract isn't expiring and D'Lo's is expiring.

But, to me, the more interesting thing is matching the money.  If there truly was interest in a trade on our part, what was the matching salary going to be.  DFS makes $14.9mm.  The only way to get there without touching our Core 8 is Maxi plus Powell and even then we'd have to go with a 14 player roster to stay under the apron.  I guess you could do Maxi plus Marshall to create $19.5mm in outgoing and maybe bring back someone else making something in the $4mm range.  But, does a DFS for Marshall swap really help us?

I have no idea whether Michael Scotto's words "keeping tabs" means monitoring for a trade or simply thinking ahead to a DFS opt out of his PO this summer.  But, if it was for a trade, the non-expiring contracts of both Maxi and Powell might have to be thought through in terms of who we are trading for.  In other words, who is interested in giving up someone we might want who doesn't mind (or might want) $15mm of expiring salary in the summer of 2026.

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
I have no idea whether Michael Scotto's words "keeping tabs" means monitoring for a trade or simply thinking ahead to a DFS opt out of his PO this summer.  But, if it was for a trade, the non-expiring contracts of both Maxi and Powell might have to be thought through in terms of who we are trading for.  In other words, who is interested in giving up someone we might want who doesn't mind (or might want) $15mm of expiring salary in the summer of 2026.

To try to be more clear about what I'm saying...

Toronto is bad and has no cap space this summer.  Would it be worth their while to take a first from us and Maxi/Powell for Kelly Olynyk.  All three players are set to expire in 2026, so it is financially a wash in terms of years.  Olynyk does what we want Maxi and Powell to do (in one body instead of two) and does it better than either of them.  And, Maxi/Powell at $15mm minus Olynyk's $12.8mm leaves $2.2mm to sign (or take back in trade) a full season minimum if that were necessary.

[Chicagojk]

To try to be more clear about what I'm saying...

Toronto is bad and has no cap space this summer.  Would it be worth their while to take a first from us and Maxi/Powell for Kelly Olynyk.  All three players are set to expire in 2026, so it is financially a wash in terms of years.  Olynyk does what we want Maxi and Powell to do (in one body instead of two) and does it better than either of them.  And, Maxi/Powell at $15mm minus Olynyk's $12.8mm leaves $2.2mm to sign (or take back in trade) a full season minimum if that were necessary.

I tend to think no.   I think a first is too much, but without a first Dallas would have to include another asset.  That is tough to find imo.

I want to hold onto that pick in case a bigger move is needed this summer.   I don't want to use if for a backup...even if dallas is all in now.   In addition, I am using every move to see how they fit against the OKC and Boston's of the world.  I don't think Kelly can play PF in that series.   I am not sure if he can play PF in our team.

I find it interesting that supposedly the Thunder are making a hard push for Cam Johnson.  '

[F Gump]

There is reporting out there on the Smoking Cuban about DFS and a possible return this summer.  I actually don't think that was the most interesting thing about the article.  Nor, do I think a comparison of what we might have offered versus what LAL gave from him to be all that fascinating.  Our first versus 3 LA seconds?  I think the real issue was Maxi's contract isn't expiring and D'Lo's is expiring.

But, to me, the more interesting thing is matching the money.  If there truly was interest in a trade on our part, what was the matching salary going to be.  DFS makes $14.9mm.  The only way to get there without touching our Core 8 is Maxi plus Powell and even then we'd have to go with a 14 player roster to stay under the apron.  I guess you could do Maxi plus Marshall to create $19.5mm in outgoing and maybe bring back someone else making something in the $4mm range.  But, does a DFS for Marshall swap really help us?

I have no idea whether Michael Scotto's words "keeping tabs" means monitoring for a trade or simply thinking ahead to a DFS opt out of his PO this summer.  But, if it was for a trade, the non-expiring contracts of both Maxi and Powell might have to be thought through in terms of who we are trading for.  In other words, who is interested in giving up someone we might want who doesn't mind (or might want) $15mm of expiring salary in the summer of 2026.

"If there truly was interest in a trade on our part ..." -- I wouldn't think their consideration of him got past the fantasy idea of they would like to have him on the team again. Assuming BKN was always looking for expiring contracts as a condition of a DFS trade (and now that we see the offers and where they went, there's no reason to think otherwise), the Mavs lacked a starting point to even get in the conversation.

So I don't think we have anything that informs us about how they might do a trade at the TDL. 

Maxi and Powell do make some sense in a TDL swap, but merely for the same reason we talk about them re DFS, ie they seem the most expendable and they bring a bit of salary to work with. Personally, I think Hardy is also a prime candidate to be included, not because he helps in a salary match, but because I can't see his fit on either the payroll or on the court next season.

As for a possible DFS pursuit this summer, I would think their most likely path would be simply signing him with the big MLE, which will start about 14M and in same vicinity as his 15.4M option, but could be for 4 years not 1. Making that offer would entail staying under Apron 1, which means there would have to be a cap-clearing move between now and then OR the Mavs would have to move on from Grimes rather than re-sign him. But Mavs could offer DFS a no-trade clause (which no one else can) along with up to 4 years of guarantees (max total about 60M).

I would love to see the Mavs trade for DJJ.

[Chicagojk]

"If there truly was interest in a trade on our part ..." -- I wouldn't think their consideration of him got past the fantasy idea of they would like to have him on the team again. Assuming BKN was always looking for expiring contracts as a condition of a DFS trade (and now that we see the offers and where they went, there's no reason to think otherwise), the Mavs lacked a starting point to even get in the conversation.

So I don't think we have anything that informs us about how they might do a trade at the TDL. 

Maxi and Powell do make some sense in a TDL swap, but merely for the same reason we talk about them re DFS, ie they seem the most expendable and they bring a bit of salary to work with. Personally, I think Hardy is also a prime candidate to be included, not because he helps in a salary match, but because I can't see his fit on either the payroll or on the court next season.

As for a possible DFS pursuit this summer, I would think their most likely path would be simply signing him with the big MLE, which will start about 14M and in same vicinity as his 15.4M option, but could be for 4 years not 1. Making that offer would entail staying under Apron 1, which means there would have to be a cap-clearing move between now and then OR the Mavs would have to move on from Grimes rather than re-sign him. But Mavs could offer DFS a no-trade clause (which no one else can) along with up to 4 years of guarantees (max total about 60M).

I would love to see the Mavs trade for DJJ.

so could the Mavs resign Grimes and then use Maxi plus their first and second, if needed to a team to clear Maxi space?   Would they be able to clear money for DFS then?

Also, why could the Mavs offer him a no trade while no one else could?

[F Gump]

1 so could the Mavs resign Grimes and then use Maxi plus their first and second, if needed to a team to clear Maxi space?   Would they be able to clear money for DFS then?

2 Also, why could the Mavs offer him a no trade while no one else could?

1 Yes, I suspect so. It's dependent on everything, as it's an issue of total salary (in order to have the ability to land under Apron 1 and use big MLE).

2 DFS played in Dallas 4 years +, which is one of the requirements for a team to be able to offer a no-trade on a new contract.