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

[SleepingHero]

Hmmmmm...THAT I don't love so much. 

I'm fine with LeBron being a Mav...just kinda scary to think about, you know, for WHAT.

If it's just Gafford and end of bench bloat...or even Naji Marshall in the mix...ok. Maybe the 4 team structure makes that possible somehow. But, I sure hope they're not sending that ONE potentially awesome pick back to LA.

The thing is, this is a pretty complicated deal if the Cavs are involved. They are a 2nd apron team and can't aggregate players without somehow cutting 19 mil of money (and not taking any more). 

Once we add in Lebron and the Mavs own limited options of piling on salary to get to a big number, it starts to make me wonder how it's possible to even get Lebron. 

But, Gafford+PJ+Martin for Garland is almost an exact match. 1.3 mil difference of additional salary for the Mavs. 

Total team salary would be be at $205,760,446.00 and they'd have roughly 2mil of space before the 2nd apron (without Exum being included) and 13 roster spots. If we included Exum, then the roster salary would be at 209,047,855 and the Mavs would be OVER the 2nd apron by 1.2 mil. Which means the Mavs would have to include another smaller salary (say Powell) and get back an even smaller salary (say Jaylen Wells from Memphis??). Then the math works, but just barely. Mavs would be 800k below the 2nd apron in this scenario. 

Full trade would be Gafford+PJ+Martin+Powell for Garland+Wells.