Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

The issue is that one of the reasons Maxi is SUCH a problem stems from his being 3rd C (not Powell) AND backup PF. When Lively or Gafford are missing time our backup bigs are exposed.
I guess where I am at at the moment: I can't see a fix for backup PF between now and the Trade Deadline. Many people are saying that Gafford is the asset we could move to get a player like John Collins (but not quite there with the $$$). IF we had a better 3rd C (that could possibly grow into the #2 slot) it would make me much more comfortable saying that Gafford is expendable. Not willing to say that with Maxi and Powell both on the roster - not hate by any means, but definitely looking to improve.

The thinking regarding Lively would be to match him with another (more mobile than Gafford) player that could go 4/5 not named Maxi.

I think in the scenario you mention below, that 4/5 would be the 4 next to Lively.

I have not seen a lot of suggestions for sending out Gafford (other than the Collins trade which we can't realistically do) at the TDL.  I think that is more likely something in the offseason.  I am skeptical we do anything at the deadline, but if we do it would make sense to replace Maxi with a 4/5 who could both take on backup 4 role and provide Gafford insurance.