Trade & FA 2024-25:

[F Gump]

My problem is the cost the Mavs paid to get out of that gamble...
I think I would rather have No Grimes and the Philly 2nd rather than Martin.
The criminal aspect of this is that there was a 2nd chance to get the pick back and instead we got a less valuable pick and confirmation that Martin is the less healthy player.

The question is Grimes (that ends in no Grimes) versus Martin.

Yes the negotiation was botched. I agree that the bird-in-the-hand of a high 2nd-rounder is more desirable than the future 2nd (even though that future 2nd may also be a good one). But that doesn't bear on what Grimes is or isn't worth. To be fair, they may not have roster room for TWO rookies, so there's that, but I do think it had potentially good value for a trade in June. But that pick being included, not sure that's a real reflection of Grimes value, but rather of Nico's stupidity in trade negotiations.

Yet I keep coming to the question of the value of Martin (with a multi-year deal cost certainty, but that some think is too rich) versus nothing. And I don't think any of us can reliably answer that yet. If Martin turns out to be a very useful player for this team, and locked down for the future at a modest price, it's a great deal. If he's a scrub with a bad contract, it's an awful one. Gotta wait and see how he looks.