01-06-2026, 03:27 PM
(01-06-2026, 02:51 PM)michaeltex Wrote: I love seeing all these ideas for how to re-shape the team. I have no feel for how all the salaries work, so I look to others who are competent cap experts to know if things work financially.
One, maybe nit picky, issue is seeing trades where DAL is getting back more players than we send out. We have a full 15 contacts and one or two, 2-way players many would like to sign to regular contracts. So far, there hasn't been much in the way of creating spots farther down the roster, but that needs to be addressed if we're bringing back more players, doesn't it? AFAIK, you can't exceed 15 at any time, so you can't create spaces after the trade is done, can you?
If incoming salaries lower the overall team cap hit, can you just release somebody?
Regarding AD returns, I'm fine with getting back somebody like KP who turns into air after the season. If I remember correctly, last summer's FA market was subdued in part due to limited cap/apron space among many (most?) teams. If the 2026 summer is similar, having cap space and other things like the MLE could help with re-building the team without having to solely rely on spinning the draft roulette wheel.
I'm no "cap expert" but I know the Mavs won't have actual CAP SPACE any time soon. It's an Apron world now. The Tax line, Apron 1 line, and Apron 2 are the ones that people will need to focus on, each coming with their own set of restrictions and penalties. The Mavs will be limited to minimum contracts, trades and using exceptions, when available, to restructure the roster. As for releasing someone. The Mavs can waive a player. The money is guaranteed already. Usually, it happens with a player like Exum, who's on the last year of his deal. It doesn't create any "financial space" to use elsewhere though, and that's why people create fantasy trades to send out more money, getting breathing room below the Apron.