Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Chicagojk]

If the Mavs made a trade for KD they would have to send out more money than they take back, otherwise they'd be hard capped at the 1st apron. The simplest trade that works is:

PJW, Klay, Gafford, Martin ($54,799,205) for Durant ($54,708,609). 

One of the Mavs players would go to a 3rd team. Maybe the Lakers want Gafford. Or Klay to the Kings (Cali connection). There are options.

That would have them needing to fill at least 4 roster spots and having ~$14m to do so. This assumes Kyrie resigns around the same number ($44M) and Powell opts in ($4M).

Kyrie | '25 FRP
Christie | Hardy
KD | Naji
AD | Omax
Lively | Powell

10 player total plus McGee is ~$194M. Second apron projection is ~$208M.

Safe to assume they will want to bring back Exum and add Edwards to the roster. Exum's cap hold is $4.1M and Edwards would be a minimum $2.1M.

Using those numbers as place holders and assuming Kyrie doesn't take less money for a longer deal. The Mavs would have ~$7.8M to add a minimum of 2 players but up to 3.

15-Man Roster

Kyrie $44M | Exum $4.1M | '25 FRP $4M
Christie $7.7M | Hardy $6M | Vet Min $2.1M
Durant $54.7M | Naji $9M | Vet Min $2.1M
Davis $54.1M | Omax $3M | Edwards $2.1M
Lively $5.2M | Powell $4M | Vet Min 2.1M

*McGee $2.2M

Total Salary: $206.4M
2nd Apron proj: $207.8M

 lineup looks good on paper, but I jsut think that is too much for KD (picks will also need to be included).   If there was a way to hang on to PJ or Klay, than I think the Mavs would be interested.  Just don't see a 4 for 1 trade with picks being reasonable.