MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

Not my theory, but I read somewhere that having the MLE might be leverage to try to get LAC to do something we want them to do.  They have their SG/SF position well covered at this point.  It isn’t a lock they would match a $52mm offer sheet for Mathurin.  The question is whether they would rather have something in a negotiation versus a binary decision with an offer sheet.

I think Masai has surpassed expectations at every turn so far.  Maybe it is Martin instead of Gafford as the outgoing.  Or, maybe he wants an asset with Mathurin for Gafford.  

One other thought.  Of the four teams Scotto said had an interest in Mathurin, Chicago had the best ability to make an offer outside of a S&T using their $9.3mm Room Exception.  Dallas leapfrogs that moving to the remaining $12mm of their MLE.

Obviously, anyone could conceivably try to get Mathurin through a S&T.  But, LAC is at 17 guaranteed contracts (Plus NG Christie) after the Kawhi trade and matching an offer (or trading for Okoro, Martin or Gafford) takes them to 18.  So, maybe positioning to be able to make the best offer sheet was the point of the specifics of the Klay buyout.