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

[KillerLeft]

I still have difficulty giving up Gafford for Sexton and #43. I wish it were some other configuration of a trade, but I suspect that's fair if I'm being honest. The only problem with the trade for me is that it has the feeling of something very short term.

I actually think there's a world in which Sexton could play here much longer than Gafford. It's not guaranteed that they'd keep him after this season, but AD, Lively AND Gafford are not ALL going to be on this team much longer. I feel like I can guarantee that. Keeping Gafford is the short-term play, from my POV, unless you think they're likely to wake up at some point in the near future and decide to move one of those other two guys. 

Hell, I'm not even sure they'll be able to pay Lively when the time comes, even if Gafford is gone by then. They have WAY too high a percentage of their resources tied into one position. I know AD can play the 4, but less so in the playoffs, and speaking of playoffs, I don't even know if Gafford literally GETS INTO those games as the roster stands. For me, it's easy to connect the dots from there to "he needs to be on a team that needs him more." 

Meanwhile, The Mavs literally have two rotation-worthy guards on the roster, and one of them is going to miss 2/3 of the season, maybe more.

They have to do something, fellas.

EDIT, to veer back onto topic (sorry):
Do I think Gafford is better than Sexton? Idk, maybe.
But, I think acting like it's not a comparison worth making is overrating Gafford pretty significantly, tbh.
And, what Sexton does, handle the ball and score, is objectively valued more than what Gafford does. By the market, the rules, the pace and style of the modern game, the salaries...you name it.
AND, the Mavericks do not have a healthy lead guard on the roster. THEY HAVE THREE STARTING CENTERS.