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

[david75090]

I agree with your general analysis of Ball - he's who he is (not who he was), he's high risk, and there's no guarantee he can be healthy enough to truly contribute.

But that reality forms the basis for what I think could make him a good trade target for the Mavs - which is, it seems quite likely CHI is going to be VERY open to a trade (in fact, I think his contract was designed specifically to enhance his trade appeal in anticipation of moving him after July 1), and the Mavs outgoing are players with some potential value to CHI but whose contracts are in the way in DAL and who might otherwise be hard to move. Hardy, Martin, Powell, take em all.

Despite the relatively high risk of him being hobbled again, the end result of such a trade would be that if Ball does NOT manage to be healthy, the Mavs still benefit by opening up some spending ability and roster space from doing such a trade. And if he does manage to be healthy (or even partly so), they also gain some help on the floor. Maybe even a consistent stream of impact minutes, in limited amounts each game? The financial risk to the Mavs of his 10M contract (if he proves worthless) is relatively modest in NBA terms (especially since it's only a 1-year commitment), and if he does work out, you get a TO for a 2nd year.

I wouldn't put all my 2025-26 eggs in a Ball basket, to be sure. But if you can add him in a way where you aren't expecting to depend on him, but you have opportunity waiting if he can handle it, then I think trading for him makes all the sense in the world. Oh, and BTW I've looked for better player (healthier) to target in such a Hardy-Martin-Powell price range (you need someone making 10-15M approx, who plays PG and would be good enough to contribute), who like Ball wouldn't have a high price tag so he might be acquired for that group, and haven't found one.

If the Mavs were to trade for Ball for salary matching purposes to get rid of some contracts, OK. Maybe the Mavs could extract another player from the Bulls for doing them the favor of taking Ball's contract. 

I'd be apprehensive  of expecting any kind of return to a rotation. As an end of the bench player, there are less expensive alternatives. If the Mavs need a PG that they can count on for solid minutes, and they do, they should look elsewhere.

I'd be happy if the Mavs traded for Ball and he turned out to be an average NBA player. The team would be better for that. Is that better than Spencer Dinwiddie?