Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

From a purely financial POV, limited to things I think the Mavs might consider, Maxi-Powell-Exum works, and if it's close to the deadline (when filling a minimum salary slot can cost a bit less), maybe Maxi-Powell-Hardy. 

That's a lot of mid-season change in the depth and team chemistry, but I think they'd get better. Chemistry involves not only whether players get along with each other (DFS would be no problem there), but also how the rotation would work (and that would bring a LOT of impact up and down the lineup).

Before I did any of that, I think I'd ask LAC about DJJ, in case a Maxi-1st package would entice them. I would prefer DJJ over DFS if given the choice.

EDITED TO ADD: Let me add an interesting trade play being proposed by Lauren Gunn, which offers a side move to carve out a bit of added flexibility. She is proposing a trade using Powell-Exum + Philly 2nd (2025) for Kispert (backup offensive wing in WAS), which then adds some room to also get DFS using Maxi-Omax-Hardy, as a combo play. For some, the inclusion of OMax and Hardy makes it now objectionable, I suspect.

It should be noted the idea would have to wait until late January (to have hard cap room to be able to refill the roster), and while she's chasing an upgrade to the back side of the roster, this would leave it even more bare (the new back end of the roster would be Morris plus 3 minimum pickups off the street or from GL or the like). Her thesis is that it's all worth it to have Kispert on your 3rd string, whose calling card is offense (he doesn't do much else of value). An issue I see - beyond the fact he's a one-way player who only shoots 33% on 3s - is he has a pretty big raise looming (next season he starts on a 4 yr 54M extension, basically MLE sized). I'm not sure he's what the Mavs would want, not sure I would like adding Kispert (the contract and lack of defense makes it feel like an "own goal" or like the return of THJ) but since the math works and operates in a different way, worth a mention. It might also spur thinking on possible different targets or side targets.

Giving up Maxi and Powell means we would need to find a playable 3rd string center for the min.  My guess is that also involves sending out the 25 first.  On the fence on that one.

Zero interest in Kispert, especially on that extension.