Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Smitty]

I can’t think of a reason to buy Klay out other than a roster spot.

The coach decides whether he’s a “stopper” for the development of the younger guys simply by allocating minutes. He doesn’t have to play him at all.

Unless Klay is willing to take a substantial discount off his remaining contract, the Mavs would be better off keeping him. Perhaps a contender will be willing to offer a bad player on an expiring contract plus a draft asset at the trade deadline.

Or maybe he’s just a big contributor, both on the court and off.

There’s no “addition by subtraction” here.

I don’t disagree with any of this, in fact I agree with most of it. I’m only offering a reason for the “trade Klay” or “buyout Klay” talk. The latest Stein report certainly feels like that’s where we’re headed. Like others have said, I’m on board with the “do right by Klay” approach. If you can’t find a trade, then let him go - if that’s what he prefers.

If he’s on the team next season, I’m perfectly fine with it. At 36, he’s still better than all the young guys I mentioned.