MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

This might be the right thinking...it makes sense. 

But, if so, I think they just shot themselves in the foot by overpaying. If someone wants him for their starting center, that's a value deal. 2 months into another season with the Mavericks and that contract is going to look pretty bad, imho, not to mention he's less valuable as a target to come off the bench for someone, I'd wager.

Whether you wanted to keep him the next four years or trade him in the next few days, this is the number you'd extend him on.  But, I'm with you.  I don't see them paying $18mm (~10% of the cap) for a backup.  I get that the two centers who are more likely to close games are both injury prone.  Still...

OTOH, Gafford has his extension and PJ doesn't.  In his post, Charn's said Gafford joins Lively, AD and Flagg in the Dallas front court.  Of course, this was also the post where he got the contract number wrong.  If you are clearing a pathway for Flagg, PJ is the one most in his way.  

Or, do you take Stein at his word that they'd prefer to keep both?

FWIW, Gafford was traded to Dallas for an expiring Holmes and what ended up being the 24th pick in last year's draft.  The range of that pick was fairly determined by the time the trade was made.  For PJ, Dallas got two seconds and game up Williams, Curry and a Top 2 protected 2027.  I don't think either of them have diminished their value since coming here.