Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Thanks! I'm saying that, presuming they get a guy like Mathurin, they're still thin at point guard and can't really afford to cut Nemby at all given the resulting roster construction, so I would prefer they shop Klay hard now to avoid doing that. Far better would be to trade for Wallace, Scoot, Black, Jrue, or Murray so there is no such worry. Would far prefer one of those guys (yes, even the aged Jrue or the oft-injured Murray) to Mathurin. Of course, if they were to figure out a way to do both (and of course leave one of them disgruntled since they wouldn't be starting...) then even better.

Whatever we think about Mathurin, he is an on-ball, creator type of player. So in a very real way, he brings a lot of what those of us wanting to address "PG" this summer think is missing here. In fact, the downside to adding him is that he kind of needs the ball in his hands to make an impact(similar to other guys we don't love around here, like Kuminga). And, Mathurin is pretty squarely in that 2 slot, positionally, whether you want to call him a "big guard" or a "wing."

Now, we can debate for hours whether what he's shown to this point leads us to believe he's going to improve in the right circumstances...whether he makes the team better or worse...whatever. But, he IS a fit for what the Mavs need, positionally, at least in theory. A good fit, actually. He can play next to Kyrie, Sasser, Nembhard and De Larrea. Probably not next to Christie much, but maybe a little bit in weird situations. 

And he's still 24, with a load of confidence and a load of talent. It certainly wouldn't be the outcome I hoped for in my wildest dreams before the summer, but I do think he's kind of a PJ Washington, Naji Marshal, Daniel Gafford - level player at ball-handling guard position, meaning he could look a lot better if he lands in the right situation with the right teammates and the right role, just like those guys.