MAVS NEWS:

[mvossman]

I doubt Naji will be traded. If he is, a FR pick and some talent that will benefit salary situation would likely be required. Probably a better pick than what Utah could offer.

The reason there's really no hurry that I can see is that Naji's value is not likely to go down as long as he is under the current contract here. He's 28, and in his prime. His birthday was last week. I can't see that his value would be any lower this summer.

The argument for him being more valuable now is that a team might see him as an important piece for this season, especially an East team with it being uniquely wide open.  Just from a pure value perspective you are getting another half year of him on that contract by trading for him now vs the offseason.  From a Mavs perspective trading him now probably means better draft positioning.  So it would be a win for both sides to make the deal sooner rather than later.  This doesn't mean I don't think the Mavs should drive a hard bargain.