Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[F Gump]

I watched a guy doing a series of ideal off seasons do his version on the Mav's.  It had other elements, but it ended up being PJ for Coby White, with PJ going to a third team.  My mind has gone to Gafford deals and deals where we retain Gafford and PJ (sending 'stuff' for a PG).  But, I haven't let my mind go toward PJ trades.  The guy kind of made some sense though.  First, PJ isn't chopped liver.  He's a legitimate starter and should bring back a legitimate starter...certainly more than Martin/Hardy.  Second, I kind of liked what was left here from the standpoint of roster balance:

Center:  Lively/Gafford:  

It makes me uncomfortable to bet my whole season on AD/Lively eating all of the 5 minutes.

Forward:  AD/Flagg/OMax
              Flagg/Naji/Martin

As much as I like PJ, this is plenty...even when AD misses games.  Klay could also get time here.

Guard:   Klay/Christie
             Kyrie/Trade

Again, depending on who the Trade nets, this seems like plenty.  

What I find interesting it isn't that easy to find a logical landing spot for PJ (and even harder to find one who happens to also have a spare starting guard and a salary situation that works).

I think this is great analysis, and agree with all the thinking ...but don't quite get to the conclusion of Coby White being the answer. Why? IMO he's just not going to be available.

But the bottom line, on the difficulty of finding a good target to fill that hole, I agree 100%. It feels like you'll end up paying a lot for a little, if you're not careful and force it. It's why I keep going back to Ball (even though he has way too many question marks to suit my taste), because I think he'll be available at a very modest price that could be quite helpful in other ways (in case those question marks kill his contributions) AND he could be good enough to actually fill that hole (at least, do it enough to be worth our while).

But that difficulty in finding the right guy makes me think again that Exum (presumably readily available and not expensive) is going to be worth re-signing as another piece. I know his injury history is a hassle, but in THIS CONTEXT, I'm thinking the Mavs gotta think of this like beggars and their pickiness.

There's another helpful piece. I do think your Mavs depth chart at G is missing a piece who will be used a lot, B Will. I'm high on what he can contribute, and he certainly fills an area of need.

B Will also makes me think of another solution that we aren't considering. But this one may be crucial in light of the lack of supply. Shouldn't they make it a high priority to scout out and sign another developmental PG to a 2-way deal, in the same vein as they did with B Will? That adds another body to fill minutes, potentially. 

Maybe it should be someone like BW, who was an undrafted kid right out of college, but had already been kicking around the GL and two-way rosters a bit when the Mavs signed him. It seems there could be more guys like that at PG (or C, too), trying to climb the hill where the learning curve can be a bit steeper. There are a lot of last year's 2-way guys who will be available for someone else to sign, and even some in the GL last year who played well but weren't on a 2-way.

PS - As to PJW, having lived through 20 years where the Mavs were desperate for a defensive-minded wing who could score a bit and be a stopper, I have a hard time liking a deal that sends away a good one that we have finally landed. Those guys are SOOOOOO hard to find. 

And a side note on the money to keep him, Caruso (probably considered a bit more desirable player?) recently extended with OKC for 4 yrs/81M. Is that a fair comp of a guy who is a significant use, good defender, not a big scorer? The point being, PJW's future salary may be way more team friendly than we've been discussing (which imo would be another point in favor of keeping what we have).