MAVS NEWS:

[michaeltex]

Does the above mean they can cut Zion with no penalty before 7/15?

So you could conceivably trade for Zion, matching salaries, then just cut him before 7/15 to free up cap space? Not proposing anything, just asking.

[F Gump]

I think Williams has 20 % of his salary guaranteed for next season, as he passed his weight checks. Neglectable in the decision making process, basically.

I think they have two paths, assuming no one is offering anything of value for him at this point. Option 1 is cut the cord, similar to as Mavs did with KP. Eat the loss and move on. Either trade him for the very little they can get or cut him. This option includes more or less trading all vets and start a (long?) rebuild. Tank in hope of getting a star through draft. 

Option 2 is run it for another season, hope he can stay healthy and increase his value. His next two years after next season are not guaranteed anyway and they can cut him later. This option is basically more of the same they had for last five seasons or so. Trying to build a very specific roster around a very specific player who is rarely available (with roster obviously not functioning without him).

Neither option is attractive, I am not sure which one I would take. Probably more inclined towards first one.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. 

Two notes ....

1 Are you SURE Zion met his checks? I didnt see any report on that either way. And based on his history and his extended idleness last season, I figured he didnt make it. 

2 He has 3 years left on his deal with limited-to-no guarantees on each following season by what happens in each season. So a team isnt necessarily only on the financial hook for 1 season. A later bump in guarantees is actually probably a desirable outcome for whoever has him -- it means he got in shape and played most games - but the lawsuit and allegations add a layer of potential ugliness to the equation.

[omahen]

 

Thanks for your thoughts. 

Two notes ....

1 Are you SURE Zion met his checks? I didnt see any report on that either way. And based on his history and his extended idleness last season, I figured he didnt make it. 

2 He has 3 years left on his deal with limited-to-no guarantees on each following season by what happens in each season. So a team isnt necessarily only on the financial hook for 1 season. A later bump in guarantees is actually probably a desirable outcome for whoever has him -- it means he got in shape and played most games - but the lawsuit and allegations add a layer of potential ugliness to the equation.

Report: Zion Williamson 'On Track' to Reach Weight Clauses in $197M Pelicans Contract
Zion Williamson Reported to Be Lightest Weight Since Being Drafted

I also saw a very recent article saying that he did meet the criteria, but I can't find it now.

[F Gump]

Does the above mean they can cut Zion with no penalty before 7/15?

So you could conceivably trade for Zion, matching salaries, then just cut him before 7/15 to free up cap space? Not proposing anything, just asking.

The payoff on a waiver would be whatever amount of guaranteed money remained on the contract. But if he isn't waived by July 15, the season ahead is 100% guaranteed. 

In a trade, his outgoing salary only counts for however much guaranteed money in the 1st or current season. If its less than 100% it gets tricky since for the team getting him, they have to match 100%.

[SamStetz]

Per Stein:

Two head coaches who are not currently available but said to interest the Knicks, according to league sources, are Dallas’ Jason Kidd and Houston’s Ime Udoka. One source with knowledge of the Rockets’ thinking told The Stein Line categorically that permission to speak with Udoka would be rejected if the Knicks requested it. A similar response would be expected from the Mavericks, but a read on their position as conclusive as Houston’s could not be immediately confirmed Tuesday night.

[Mavs2021]

Per Stein:

Two head coaches who are not currently available but said to interest the Knicks, according to league sources, are Dallas’ Jason Kidd and Houston’s Ime Udoka. One source with knowledge of the Rockets’ thinking told The Stein Line categorically that permission to speak with Udoka would be rejected if the Knicks requested it. A similar response would be expected from the Mavericks, but a read on their position as conclusive as Houston’s could not be immediately confirmed Tuesday night.

PG swap: Kidd for Brunson.

[DallasMaverick]

PG swap: Kidd for Brunson.

Defense wins championships.

[david75090]

Defense wins championships.

Thus enacting the defense-wins-championships forcefield.

[DallasMaverick]

Thus enacting the defense-wins-championships forcefield.

Mighty powerful, ain’t it?

[cow]

It's too bad the Knicks don't have a lot of draft capital. I'd give up Kidd for a first.

[david75090]

Mighty powerful, ain’t it?

It's inarguable.

[SleepingHero]

@KevinGraySports
Tim MacMahon on the idea of the Knicks getting Jason Kidd from the Mavericks: “I would not dismiss that possibility.”

He adds it would be going too far to think Kidd wants out, but there have been franchise decisions that he wasn’t on board with

https://x.com/KevinGraySports/status/193...5223001223

"one of which was the firing of Casey Smith"

[Berknip]

Mavs predicted to fire Nico Harrison, trade $175.4 million star to Hornets


If only this were true...

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

@KevinGraySports
Tim MacMahon on the idea of the Knicks getting Jason Kidd from the Mavericks: “I would not dismiss that possibility.”

He adds it would be going too far to think Kidd wants out, but there have been franchise decisions that he wasn’t on board with

https://x.com/KevinGraySports/status/193...5223001223

"one of which was the firing of Casey Smith"

Gawd, yes!  They can have him for a half eaten ham sandwich

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Thibs....

How is this shocking? Every year he wears out a 7 man rotation that runs out of gas in the playoffs and has to rely on an unproven bench. IMO, some franchise would do well having him the highest paid assistant coach in the league. Let him develop and scheme (with the HC properly balancing minutes).

[Chicagojk]

The Dallas Mavericks will host a two-day mini-camp on June 9 and 10, with multiple players to participate as the team evaluates candidates for Exhibit 10, two-way, or standard NBA deals ahead of free agency, league sources say.

[Chicagojk]

Unrestricted free agent guard Dennis Smith Jr. is working out for the Dallas Mavericks next week, according to a source. Smith Jr. last played in the NBA for the Brooklyn Nets when he appeared in 56 games during the 2023-24 season. The 27-year-old North Carolina State product was selected ninth overall by the Mavericks in the 2017 NBA Draft.

According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Smith Jr. is also working out for the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a two-day veteran minicamp. The Mavericks are expected to hold a similar camp on June 9 & 10, but it is unconfirmed whether Smith Jr.’s workout will be part of that or something separate. Just yesterday, video surfaced of Dennis Smith Jr. playing pick-up with current Maverick Klay Thompson in Miami.

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Smith Jr. signed with the Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks G-League affiliate, in December 2024, but he did not appear in any games. In January 2025, the former Maverick guard signed with Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague where he only appeared in two games and averaged just over 10 minutes before parting ways in February.

The Mavericks need backcourt help this summer with Kyrie Irving likely sidelined until early 2026, and, due to a complicated cap sheet, the only realistic targets for Dallas will likely have to come via a veteran’s minimum contract and/or trade. As he is clearly on the hunt for a return to the NBA, Dennis Smith Jr.’s next contract would likely come as an Exhibit 10, non-guaranteed or standard minimum.

Dennis Smith Jr. would immediately provide a boost to Dallas’ perimeter defense, but his offensive game and health has proven inconsistent throughout his seven seasons in the NBA. Statistically, the best season of his NBA career came in his rookie season with the Mavericks when he averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 69 games; he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second team in 2018. Smith Jr. was traded from Dallas the following season and has since played for the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets.

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[Winter]

I wouldn't think Smith would be THE singular PG backup. I would think more likely he is one of two PGs... or perhaps part of some configuration in a master plan trade.

It's hard to get my mind around just Dennis Smith and nothing else... unless maybe they plan on a combo of BWill, Naji, Flagg, Hardy and then Smith. Which sounds like gumbo to me. Smith might also fit if you had in mind another PG AND you planned on trading away Hardy

[Chicagojk]

I wouldn't think Smith would be THE singular PG backup. I would think more likely he is one of two PGs... or perhaps part of some configuration in a master plan trade.

It's hard to get my mind around just Dennis Smith and nothing else... unless maybe they plan on a combo of BWill, Naji, Flagg, Hardy and then Smith. Which sounds like gumbo to me. Smith might also fit if you had in mind another PG AND you planned on trading away Hardy

Sounds like Smith is just grinding looking for an oppotrunity to be in a camp.   I too have difficulty seeing a real fit.   I thought he would get a chance after he was in Dallas at the end of the season and at a game.  If the team thinks Williams has a roster spot, the chances go down further.    I mean he wasn't in the league last year.

I hope he gets another chance and thought he was ok in his last few spots.  The issue is those guyare always have to fight for a spot and can get left out pretty easily.

[SleepingHero]

@NationMffl
REPORT: The New York Knicks are expected to “formally request permission to speak” to Jason Kidd, per
@TheSteinLine


Stein adds that it’s unclear how Dallas would respond to this request.