Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

No, a KD trade does not have to include PJ. The Mavs can keep all 3 of PJ, Lively, and Christie, and trade everyone else other than AD - Kyrie (gutting their depth, but that's true with about any version because KD has such a large salary to match). If it's me, none of them would be on the table.

And whatever PHX thinks they want, Mavs can always say no, until PHX is more reasonable.

As we have already seen with the Luka trade, a trade doesn't necessarily end up including all the stuff you imagined. It's a matter of negotiation. Nor do I think the PHX price would be sky high. KD is older, which lowers his value, and I don't get the sense that the Suns would want to force KD to stay, which would mean his price should be reasonable enough to allow a trade to happen. If he's pushing for Dallas, that's probably the key factor.

Lets just say that if there is a KD trade, I am predicting PJ is part of the outgoing.  If AD is at the 4 and KD is at the 3, are they planning on starting PJ at the 2?  I believe you need either PJ or Klay in that trade to make the money work, and I doubt Suns have any interest in Klay.  PJ makes way more sense for them.  

Mavs can always say no, but so can the Suns.  KD is old but he is still a superstar.  If you are using Luka trade as an example of a trade not including what is expected, it was Nico that got less than expected.  I am fully prepared to watch Nico to give up more than expected to get his final piece.