Trade & FA 2024-25:

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Couldn't agree more with the bold! It's exactly the opposite of what I would do, except the Hardy part, but I 100% think that it's Nico's plan.

As for Exum, it's hard to gauge what his value is. A of now, 4M seems fair for the oft injured, soon to be 30-year-old guard. He has a real chance to earn more in the second half of the season. Even in the scenario I laid out, the Mavs can get to about $7.5M for Exum by going with a 14-man roster. That's assuming Kyrie doesn't help them any with his year 1 number.

They can also get more flexibility with your Hardy trade.

In the end, if this is the way they go, I do expect Kyrie to work with Nico on a deal that makes it all doable.

For sure, I might be over valuing Exum a bit considering the injury history (and his play on the biggest stage last year for that matter) but given that this is potentially his last chance to get a big contract I am positive he won't be doing any favors.  Keeping him around though is probably going to be pretty crucial whether or not they go try to get KD to be honest so it will be interesting.

Agreed on Kyrie working with Nico on this, I also expect AD waiving his kicker was his way of trying to help make all this happen as well to be honest.

In this world where I just assume a KD trade is going to happen, I would consider any sort of construction that keeps Lively, Christie and '25 a win, including any of that is a massive overpay for a 37 year old (who I honestly think is going to play til his like 41 though).