Trade & FA 2024-25:

[F Gump]

Just to run out the grounder on this hypothetical, what would be the path of least resistance to accomplishing those goals? Is there even an easy way to do it?

It's not easy. 

They can get a roster slot by waiving someone, but who? There's not a player on the roster that we can pinpoint. But more importantly, a waiver doesn't gain them a penny more of spending room (they have about 500K which is not sufficient since it's not even minimum salary) because all their contracts are fully guaranteed.

So is there a 2-for-1 swap, to free up a space and potentially some spending room? But what target is there? And you sure don't do that trade primarily to sign a certain buyout, whose availability is going to be up in the air at best, and who might pick a different team. 

Or do you try to just give away a player (like Exum) in a 1-for-0? You have to do the trade 1st, then there probably won't be any buyouts until after the TDL, so it's risky -- and the Mavs' W/L record (ie, a team in freefall from contender status) may be unattractive to the better buyout guys looking for a spot to do some playoff things.