Trade & FA 2024-25:

[dirkfansince1998]

No roster is perfect but DJJ and Grimes are great PoA defenders. There’s no perfect player available. Your point about Kleber is valid. Some are higher than others on Omax and one could argue that Lively shooting 2 threes a game is just as good as Maxi. But I think we both agree that Maxi at the 4 is not ideal and that’s his role here. I agree though, he’s important and would be a hole that must be filled by others.

What other player rumored available that Green+Maxi can return would you rather have?

Jerami Grant
Cam Johnson
Deandre Hunter
Bruce Brown
Andrew Wiggins
Kyle Kuzma
Tobias Harris
Pat Williams
KCP

Some will cost picks, others probably not. I don’t see a single player that fits PoA defender, elite shooter, 36 mpg playoff starter.

The issue isn't that the Mavs wouldn't have POA attack defenders. But where do you find minutes for them if Kyrie, Luka and Klay are starting/playing 30+ minutes.
Kleber is not only the 5-out big. He is also their switch all big. A skillset that Lively and Gafford don't offer. Mavs would lose a lot of their lineup versatility without him.

There is no perfect solution. Mavs don't have the assets to get the kind of player that can fix all of their issues. Doesn't mean that they should settle for a player that creates as much issues as he fixes. Mavs don't have to make a trade just for the sake of it. They don't have to trade Green+Kleber this summer. And if they make a trade they don't have to chase the biggest available name.