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

[SleepingHero]

It looks like we can only afford one of Gafford or PJ and I'd rather keep PJ. If we can use Gaffords salary to get Sexton I'd be up for that. He's now a good 3pt shooter and one of the best PG defenders in the NBA. Send Gafford to ATL, and peices from us n ATL to Utah

The Mavs could afford both actually. All they would have to do is trim the excess money on the roster elsewhere. Shipping out guys like Naji+Martin for 2 guys making around 4-5 mil is enough. Add in giving away Hardy at 6 mil per year and the Mavs could comfortably afford both Gafford+PJ even on their extensions while largely keeping the rest of the roster the same. 

Of the two, I'd prefer to keep PJ at all costs. But I am also not super motivated at just giving away Gafford. Especially without a suitable backup in place. There is a reason why so many teams would want Gafford right now and its because finding a reliable big man today that can do "big man" things is a rare commodity. 

The issue is with your hypothetical trade regarding Sexton is that any trade the Mavs make this summer HAS to end up with the Mavs receiving less salary than they are sending out because of the 2nd apron issue. 

Because of Kyrie's expected cap hold and Flagg's upcoming deal, the Mavs have to operate like a 2nd apron team and follow 2nd apron rules. So they cannot aggregate players in a trade, nor trade for more money than they are sending out. Unless they end a trade where they are below the 2nd apron, their hands are tied.

Given Sexton's current deal has him making 5 mil more than Gafford, that means a trade for him is technically illegal. That is, unless, the Mavs send out about 25 mil of salary in a Sexton trade. Which means it'd be Gafford+Martin (or Naji). Powell+Hardy you'd think would get them there, but they have minimum roster charges to factor in worth about 1.6 mil, which means it doesn't work. And at this point, is Sexton worth 2 core rotation guys? I don't think so. 

But for example, if ATL wants to send #13+#22 and a guy like Niang for Gafford? Then I'm all ears. Niang is a stretch 4, which gives our F slot a bit more variation of shooting. Mavs can then use 13+22 along with a guy like Martin to find a guard making around 10-12 mil.