Trade & FA 2024-25:

[KillerLeft]

2) I keep seeing 5 out center.  Mavs don't view him as a big piece there.   

Hard, hard disagree. I think if you look at how he has been used, it's pretty easy to reach the opposite of this conclusion. He's significantly more effective at the 5, and that's where they used him the most, by FAR, when he was healthy. Remember that Kleber/Washington combo that was so effective down the stretch? It was one of the best things they had, and they were leaning on it a ton in important moments. It's how they closed a ton of games (most, maybe).

The place he is ineffective is the 4. They did that a little in the Finals (it didn't go well), but really not much down that stretch when they were winning games at the end of the season. 

I don't think this is a matter of opinion, I think the emboldened statement is factually untrue. No idea if that means they do/don't trade him, I only know what it does for my answer to the hypothetical you posed.