Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Chicagojk]

CHICAGO JK - That's a good analysis, but if this team is healthy, is there really a hole needing to be filled? If you count Marshall, you've identified 9 (!) valued players NOT including either Exum or SD. We badly need a "10th man" or even lower? I'm being silly, but you get the point.

I'm not convinced there's a lack of shot creation either; our mindset is used to seeing one player creating almost all of the offense, getting a shot for himself or via a flashy pass, and when we don't see that we think it's an issue. But without Luka in the mix, the attack comes from lots of places, and the ball moves. Kyrie is a big threat, and so is AD. Lots of supporting offense across the lineup.

As for what a trade might look like, in theory the Mavs could easily put together a package and trade for a player up to maybe 18-20M in salary (with Powell, Hardy, and maybe Martin or Marshall), but do they have a 20M hole? And the minutes? As much as I like the idea in theory, I just don't see it.

Gafford - Lively
AD - Martin
PJ - Marshall
Klay - Christie
Kyrie - Exum/SD

I do see the need to package several players together for one, however, and maybe take back less in salary. Assuming they keep either Exum or SD and maybe both, they have too many useful players to fit onto the roster imo. So there's that part of the equation.

It is too bad we are so injured.  It would have seen helpful to see a healthy roster to see how, if they do, fit together.  I think a lot of us thought that Gafford would be the odd man out moving forward.  AD gets backup center minutes, PJ gets backup 4 minutes and you look for a cheapish third center.   Although, I wonder if Nico really likes the Gafford/Lively combo and just try to out physical teams.    Gafford can eat up minutes as Lively has proven he cannot be a heavy minute player yet in the league.   With Lively still on a rookie deal, Maybe you are fine giving Gafford a 16-18 million dollar deal.

I have my concerns with this lineup, but I do wonder if Lively and Gafford are a part of Nico's vision.