10-12-2024, 09:20 PM
(10-12-2024, 07:25 PM)DL2RimRocker Wrote: No doubt Mavs would want to keep Gafford at the right price, but Gafford will be in the middle of his prime when his contract expires so I'm looking at it from Gaff's point of view. I said the same thing about Brunson not wanting to re-sign to be Luka's backup at the time and people on other boards thought that was nutty.
Considering Lively's age, upside, and most likely increasing minutes going into his 3rd season next year, the fact Kyrie and Klay are on the back sides of their careers, the Mavs having limited trade assets, and Gaff most likely wanting to play starting minutes (and get paid a starter salary), I don't think it is a nutty idea to think he could be trade bait next off season or at TDL in 2026. That will be close to the time the Mavs will have to offer Lively most likely a huge contract. Gafford should be one hell of a trade asset for us to help acquire Klay's replacement.
The idea on developing Sharp is more about holding on to him as a potential candidate to replace Gafford if he decides to move on from the Mavs. Sharp could very easily be the next Moses Brown or Tacko Fall but my point is to give him one of the two-way contracts to see if he can become at least take Powell's role as an insurance/situational backup. Also, we have to remember the budding 7'6 superstar in our division that we'll have to deal with for many years so it wouldn't hurt having someone with similar size as an insurance/situational option.
Trading Gafford this year or next year are two completely different conversations. This year? Hell no. Next year? Possibly.