MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

The Mavs only need to finish the regular season at 8 for the chance at a 1-game shot for the 7 seed and avoiding OKC entirely. Well, until Coop leads us to the WCF of course.

The Klay thing is tricky to me. He’s been much better and this team needs the shooting/spacing he provides. I was moving him in the rumored Mathurin/Gafford swap, because I see his role being filled there. It was a 3 team deal, but doesn’t have to be. 

DAL: Mathurin, Kleber (expiring), Vincent (expiring)
LAL: Klay, Hardy
IND: Gafford

I struggled with who would need a “sweetener”. The expiring Maxi and Gabe frees up $23.5M next season, with Klay and Hardy off the books. That feels like a good year 1 starting number for Mathurin as a RFA. 

Klay to Lakers doesn’t have to be the team either. I was just getting him to LA and on a “contender”. Several teams could use him and have an expiring or two. The framework is there.

If the plan is to keep AD and try to win, it is 8th seed or bust for me.  If we get there, you are risking losing the play-in with 7 (at that point, go ahead and lose the next game too).  But, if you win, you get whoever is the 2nd seed and avoid the OKC side of the bracket.

If the plan is to keep AD, I like still doing things around the edges that get us younger.  So, I'm all for the Gafford/Mathurin part of this.  I think you have to keep Indy out of the tax (which doesn't quite happen with the way that is constructed).  I also don't see much return for Klay other than expiring guys.  I personally think Mathurin is more valuable than Gafford (though each would be valuable to their new team).  So, I can see the thought process of LA giving up something else (2nds?) and it going to Indy.  The trick with this is LAL is so close to the first apron and Indy is so close to the tax that the numbers are challenging.