Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

Mavs salary for next season (THJ for Grimes trade already accounted) is 160.052 mil + 2.208 mil of McGee dead money, which is a bit over 162.2 mil. However, the allocations are calculated at 163.761 mil, so I assume there is one empty slot salary added to that. First apron minus 163.761 gives you the 14.89 mil space below the first apron. 

FA agent brought into that 14th spot would replace the empty slot salary, which means the actual available salary for the 14th guy is around 16.3 mil (this is the number Keith Smith mentioned). Take away 1 mil cushion and you are at 15.3 mil. If DJJ takes a couple of million below the max MLE, Mavs could get to over 17 mil of first year Thompson salary, if they only send Green out for air.

Source for all salary numbers is Spotrac:  Dallas Mavericks Multi-Year Table (spotrac.com)

Everything will come down to how much Thompson and DJJ will want on their deals, but I can see a scenario where only Green is needed to make things work. 

Personally I wouldn't make Thompson my prime target, but this Mavs earned the benefit of a doubt for me.

The FO has been great, but still make blunders (Grant Williams, attempt to get Kuz). Given the contract they are likely to give Klay, they are not going to be able to pivot if things go bad like they did with Grant.