Trade & FA 2024-25:

[DanSchwartzgan]

That's an improvement for the Mavs, but maybe not worth what it might cost to get him, right? I like the player, but wouldn't want to give up Grimes for him, just as an example.

I've been looking at players in the $13mm area and below with Maxi/Hardy/2025 as my presumed outgoing.  You can play around with Powell and/or Exum if you want and get the number up a little.  The reporting that Grimes might be packaged bumps the upper end of the range for incoming salary even more.  But, I think most agree that would only be done begrudgingly and for just the right player with just the right fit.

I've kind of quickly dismissed conversations that brought back guys making in the mid-20's in my thinking as being too disruptive.  But, the DLLS guys threw out some names in this range today.  They mentioned lower salary guys like Nance, Boucher and Stewart and higher salary guys like Isaac and Collins.  Bobby Karalla was particularly high on Collins as a 4/SB-5 replacement for both Maxi and Gafford.  He clearly hasn't read FG's apron stuff here on the board.

There is one player that does the 4/SB-5 thing and who makes enough less than Collins to make the math work better.  Draymond for Maxi/Gafford?  You'd have to run with 14 players to make the 2-for-1 work.  It would definitely add to the D.

Lively   PJ     Luka    Grimes     Kyrie
    Green  Klay   Hardy,    Dinwiddie