Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

One thing I've actually wondered is if the Klay Thompson smoke from Dallas is to try to leverage DJJ to keep his number as a little home town discount and come back. Basically, Nico's way of saying to DJJ's agent "we could also just put Klay into that MLE instead of Derrick".

I've had that wonder, myself, but would like to think the negotiation between Jones and Dallas isn't quite that cutthroat. 

I think that if he leaves, he was either looking for a way out or Dallas has decided to go in a different direction. I can't make either of those make sense in my head, however. He had other offers last summer, but chose to take the Dallas minimum. The collaboration resulted in an NBA Finals appearance. 

If someone is going to give them the bag, I can see him leaving for that. Holding out for that possibility, no matter how remote, might be why nothing promising has leaked. After Annonuby signed and before this Paul George thing happened, it looked like there might be more cap space out there than players to target. He has made only about $27 million total, so if some team offers him more than the MLE he's got to take it, really, and I'll wish him well. I don't expect that, though - does anyone? I flatly do not believe he's going take some other team's MLE instead of the Mavs', should the Mavs offer it. Where else is he going to start and play 30 minutes per? Where else is that even a possibility, at least on a good team? This MLE (again, if it's offered) has just got to be the "best" MLE for him. 

I could understand the Mavs looking elsewhere if they thought they could replicate his defense (or come damn close) while upgrading his offense. KCP, maybe, but they can't get him. I don't see any upside to prioritizing anyone we've talked about over DJJ this summer, other than maybe Grant. I could live with them letting Jones walk to be able to afford Grant, but it sounds like the holdup there is getting Portland to fork him over. Klay Thompson, while interesting, does not qualify as a player who justifies letting Jones walk. I don't know that there's much room for debate on that. 

I just can't get there, guys. I think he's a Maverick.