Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Smitty]

Finding a Maxi replacement should be a priority for all the reasons you mentioned. But as long as they don't have one you cannot give him up for another guard/wing. Mavs need to have some kind of 5-out/switch all option on the roster. Maybe PJ can do it in stretches. Maybe OMax takes the next step and the Mavs can get away with him playing some center minutes.
The playoffs showed that in certain matchups Gafford isn't playable. He actually exceeded my expectations but when Maxi was available he played less than 20 minutes per game for a reason (only 15mpg in the finals). I would assume that longterm Lively is going to play starter minutes but I don't think he is a switch all big. Just a better and more mobile version of Gafford playing drop defense.

Only issue that every single team in the league is looking for younger and more durable versions of Maxi. All the cheap options have major flaws. There is a long list of shooting bigs that cannot defend. Even more versatile defenders that cannot shoot. But the combination of both is rare.

We agree! I'm going to bookmark this one.