Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Chicagojk]

"If there truly was interest in a trade on our part ..." -- I wouldn't think their consideration of him got past the fantasy idea of they would like to have him on the team again. Assuming BKN was always looking for expiring contracts as a condition of a DFS trade (and now that we see the offers and where they went, there's no reason to think otherwise), the Mavs lacked a starting point to even get in the conversation.

So I don't think we have anything that informs us about how they might do a trade at the TDL. 

Maxi and Powell do make some sense in a TDL swap, but merely for the same reason we talk about them re DFS, ie they seem the most expendable and they bring a bit of salary to work with. Personally, I think Hardy is also a prime candidate to be included, not because he helps in a salary match, but because I can't see his fit on either the payroll or on the court next season.

As for a possible DFS pursuit this summer, I would think their most likely path would be simply signing him with the big MLE, which will start about 14M and in same vicinity as his 15.4M option, but could be for 4 years not 1. Making that offer would entail staying under Apron 1, which means there would have to be a cap-clearing move between now and then OR the Mavs would have to move on from Grimes rather than re-sign him. But Mavs could offer DFS a no-trade clause (which no one else can) along with up to 4 years of guarantees (max total about 60M).

I would love to see the Mavs trade for DJJ.

so could the Mavs resign Grimes and then use Maxi plus their first and second, if needed to a team to clear Maxi space?   Would they be able to clear money for DFS then?

Also, why could the Mavs offer him a no trade while no one else could?