Trade & FA 2024-25:

[F Gump]

The % is great but it wasn’t on a ton of attempts. That being said Smith was drafted this early due to his ability to shoot the three in college. It took him multiple seasons to adjust to the three point line but he’s a legit NBA stretch big now. He’d fit like a glove here and we could move on from Kleber.

Adding a rotation caliber big who can shoot it is a HUGE hole on the roster Imo. Smith would once again be a player who’d help right away but still has plenty of room to improve given that he’s still so young. I really hope we’re in the mix for him.

A note on the Smith ideas --

He seems desirable when the price tag is the 5.x salary he declined. Then it doesn't seem much of a stretch from where the Mavs are, to open up some room somehow, for a SNT to add him.

But what happens if his price tag is much higher? The money gets harder to find. And simply keeping Kleber at 11M makes more sense after all.

[mvossman]

The 3 MUST be a POA defender. Non-negotiable. Last season taught us that, though some are trying to forget. The Mavs are about to re-sign Jones AND have now added Grimes. They've DOUBLED DOWN on what they think works from that position. 

This!  It’s why I’m not interested in Klay. It’s hard to find someone who can improve on DJJ offense without sacrificing a lot on defense. I actually think there is a possibility Grimes turns into that guy. In that world DJJ can be your backup 4 as well as your backup 3.

[chaparral]

In the excitement of the moment earlier, I forgot that the Grimes path lessened the chance of making the Grant thing work without losing DJJ. I could make a pretty compelling argument for prioritizing Grant in that situation, but I don't think that's what Dallas will do. So, now that Grimes/DET were chosen, I'm looking ahead to a post-Grant world of wondering (even if I haven't completely given up hope).

The holes now (there aren't many) in my mind, are as follows:

1) a backup forward, probably more 4 than 3, who can play behind PJ and hopefully some 3 in a bigger lineup. I think it's folly to expect Kleber to suddenly be good at the 4, despite what we think would work based solely on size.

2) while I'm still on the more optimistic side with Kleber (as a stretch big, not a forward), it's fair to wonder whether now is a good time to get younger here. They've gotten younger everywhere else, and he is injured so often it's getting harder to hope he'll be healthy when needed. But, a stretch big who can defend is a hard, hard thing to find.

3) Those who don't believe in Hardy and/or Exum are probably freaking out about adding another ball-handler who can score. Grimes is not that.

It seems to me that giving DJJ the MLE, or a big chunk of it (I'm calling $8-11 million) and then finding someone who's basically a match for Green's contract that can fill either need #1 or #3 (but from my POV, probably #1) is the move here. If need #2 is your aim, maybe you include Kleber's contract into the thinking, somehow.

So, who fits this criteria?
DFS?
Cam Johnson?

Those are the first two names that came to mind for me. Anyone else?

I like you're thinking.

Green + Hardy for DFS works.  But I like Green + Kleber for Cam much better.

[SleepingHero]

I have my computer now, for better math-ing.

KS's number is wrong, for our purposes. Not sure what he included, but someone else (Marks, maybe?) said 14.9, and that number is right - but it doesn't include any cushion for having to stay under the Apron. (There's no chance whatsoever that a team would not leave a cushion - the Apron is unforgiving, there are no exceptions given.)

So I set aside exactly 1M for a cushion, and work from there.

That leaves 13.9 for DJJ, which leaves 1M left over to combine with an outgoing player (in the right trade setup). BOTTOM LINE - If you send out Green, you could acquire a player making up to 13.65M-ish.

Or if we add in Maxi, we can get a guy making 23.65M. But a 2 for 1 we have to account for an empty roster charge, so let's say 21.4

A 4 year deal starting at 21.4 with 5% raises is 92mil. It sounds a lot (*cough for Klay*) but the breakdown is:
21.4
22.5
23.6
24.7

The cap is just going up so that number is gonna hurt less and less. Secondly, looking at this roster construction contract wise, we don't have a guy making anything in their 20s. We basically have Luka+Kyrie and a bunch of MLE deals. Now that's great in terms of keeping costs low, but if we're trying to upgrade the roster in a couple of years after the Kyrie window is closed, it'll be good for us to have a 20 something mil deal that's close to expiring that we can add with an MLE level deal that can get us a difference maker.

[DallasMaverick]

We need a PEJA STOJAKOVIC. Klay Thompson with a reduced role and favorable salary would be a huge addition.

Agreed. 

Like maybe vet min.

[loki]

I like you're thinking.

Green + Hardy for DFS works.  But I like Green + Kleber for Cam much better.

With the quality of looks he would get in Dallas, I think Cam could probably put up 15 pts on 60% TS without killing you defensively. Hard to ask for much more if the price is Green and a single 1st.

Other names might be Deandre Hunter, Patrick Williams, Rui, Batum. Not super thrilling, but they would be a lot cheaper.

[Scott41theMavs]

They WERE far away on offense, but another heliocentric scoring guard wouldn't fix it. Good insurance against an injury, and a good thing to have to lessen the regular season work load for Luka and Kyrie, but not a solution to THAT problem. 

The solution is a guy in the top 6 of the rotation who plays big minutes, including a ton of minutes WITH Luka AND Kyrie. Last 5 minutes of the game type of minutes, so he needs to be from a different position, and needs to be competent enough on defense to be trusted in high leverage moments. Basically, the immediate solution to that problem would need to be one of the team's five best players.

Lively is going to be the center. 

The 3 MUST be a POA defender. Non-negotiable. Last season taught us that, though some are trying to forget. The Mavs are about to re-sign Jones AND have now added Grimes. They've DOUBLED DOWN on what they think works from that position. 

That leaves the 4. That's why they are into Grant. That's why I'M into grant. He would make them so much more complete as a team, and is a two-way guy who can play 30+ per in a playoff series. These guys don't grow on trees. Having said that, the Grimes path was chosen (I'm not mad, I'm thrilled) so Grant's contract makes him a long shot. 

So, I think unless you're a Kyle Kuzma fan, we're back to hoping for enough quick improvement from PJ Washington to fix that, specific problem the finals exposed. I just don't see any other getable difference makers out there who fit. Grant was it.

Isn't there an elephant in the room in what you're posting here? 

PJ was our fourth best player on a championship run. Getting a top-five-on-the-team scoring four relegates him to the bench. Bet he doesn't like that after what he did last year. The Mavs' win totals not getting any better might not like it either. My point is, if you get a guy like Grant, does that make PJ expendable? Is Grant as good as post-TDL PJ on defense? Is Grant so much better on offense than PJ that he's worth any defensive drop-off, the additional cap cost, and the potential damage to chemistry/locker room of losing a good citizen and adding a guy who is probably postal over being relegated to a sideman role again? Or could Kyrie/Morris change Grant's attitude prior to the season? I would be hesitant, tbh, to include PJ in a trade for Grant because it seems to me that there is a legitimate queasiness that PJ might be the better overall player in that deal, or at least the better player for the Mavs. Seems that Grant is better, but that sense of doubt... brrrrr. 

Another consideration - PJ's contract isn't that bad, given the CBA/salary cap changes. Would he get enough minutes off the bench to justify keeping him? If I might suggest a path to that - could we maneuver in such a way to send out Gafford and get back a guy who fits as well on a lower salary? 

TLDR - Getting Grant might very well make PJ or Gafford expendable for other team needs.

[WillE]

Alternatively, I wouldn't be shocked to see Hardy AND Green packaged for some type of splashy ball-handler/initiator. Bogdan Bogdanoic, maybe. Someone like that. Those young guys are attractive enough that could probably get someone pretty exciting without any additional assets.

My first thought with THJ gone and Grimes in was: next one gone could be Green.

Grimes is kind of redundant to Green and with Ajinca there is already a guy brought in for the third row, so one of Green and Grimes could be enough.

I also wouldn't be shocked, if Gafford would be included to bring in someone who is more of an inside scorer...

[KillerLeft]

With the quality of looks he would get in Dallas, I think Cam could probably put up 15 pts on 60% TS without killing you defensively. Hard to ask for much more if the price is Green and a single 1st.

Other names might be Deandre Hunter, Patrick Williams, Rui, Batum. Not super thrilling, but they would be a lot cheaper.

Deandre Hunter is intriguing, not as a replacement for DJJ, as was being discussed, but maybe to rotate behind PJ and DJJ at the 4/3 the way Grimes will rotate at the 3/2?I'm not sure it's ideal, but it does something for me. I haven't thought about it much though.

I was in love with Patrick Williams back when he went 4th, but he has apparently not developed a bit since draft night. Still raw as the day he was drafted. My Chicago friends hate him. He just never developed any usable skills, and even his defense isn't what you'd hope it would be. If that's the target, I really think just playing O-Max is the better choice.

[Scott41theMavs]

This!  It’s why I’m not interested in Klay. It’s hard to find someone who can improve on DJJ offense without sacrificing a lot on defense. I actually think there is a possibility Grimes turns into that guy. In that world DJJ can be your backup 4 as well as your backup 3.

This is the thing - Klay at this point in his career is ***not a starter,*** unless the goal is to make your team worse, and especially with regards to defense. You'd be signing him to come off the bench, or you'd be signing him to make your team worse (tanking, or because you have no choice but to replace a guy who walked like DJJ if he does that). And he may not even be 8-man rotation worthy at this point of his career.

If they sign Klay for more than $12 mil per, that's as bad as the Wes Matthews Monty Haul deal. In that event, they should have just kept THJ, and we're all glad they didn't do that, so basketball gods, please please please save the Mavs from getting Klay.

[DallasMaverick]

I’m reading all these ideas for improving the roster, but most proposals seem like they give with one hand what they’re taking back with the other. Or sometimes just make us worse.

Not saying they shouldn’t constantly be trying, but I haven’t seen a clear home run yet.

Maybe we’re destined for another season of basically the same team, with a few minor moves around the edges.

And I’d be okay with that.

[Jym]

Green + Kleber for Cam just makes so much sense
just depends on what else you'd have to add. Hopefully the Nets really like Green's potential

[loki]

Deandre Hunter is intriguing, not as a replacement for DJJ, as was being discussed, but maybe to rotate behind PJ and DJJ at the 4/3 the way Grimes will rotate at the 3/2?I'm not sure it's ideal, but it does something for me. I haven't thought about it much though.

I was in love with Patrick Williams back when he went 4th, but he has apparently not developed a bit since draft night. Still raw as the day he was drafted. My Chicago friends hate him. He just never developed any usable skills, and even his defense isn't what you'd hope it would be. If that's the target, I really think just playing O-Max is the better choice.

I'd like to see two offense/defense platoons. Grimes/DJJ and Player X/PJ. It might make sense to start one of the scorers and bring one off the bench. But either way, you've got a ton of flexibility to mix and match lineups.

I go back and forth on Hunter. I want to like him, but I'm not sure he really has any elite skills. Feels like another Harrison Barnes at times.

Williams seems to have some of the Josh Green confidence/lack of aggression issues. That might be a good call on preferring Omax.

[KillerLeft]

Isn't there an elephant in the room in what you're posting here? 

if you get a guy like Grant, does that make PJ expendable? 

I would consider moving off of PJ to get Grant, yes. Not sure I'd do it, because PJ was really good on one end and I have a lot of confidence that he'll be much better on the other after a training camp. But, he's not going to be Jerami Grant on offense anytime soon. 

I'd wager the Mavs are looking at upgrading PJ at least somewhat seriously, otherwise they'd have never been linked to Grant this summer at all. 

THAT would officially be risky, but I can argue it's the right move if I try. I'd hate to lose PJ though. I'd have no problems, whatsoever, asking him to come off the bench. 

My ideal scenario would be adding Grant to Grimes AND Jones Jr. I know it is the longest of shots, but not as much of a long shot as trading for Kevin Durant or something like that. Maybe DJJ takes enough less to get the guy here? Idk...probably a waste of time to hope, but that's where I am. 

I'd also be thrilled with DFS or Cam Johnson, so long as 2031 is not involved. 

Then again, I'd also be thrilled with the Grimes trade, re-signing DJJ and calling it a summer, truth be told. These are good times for Mavs fans.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Charania] Pelicans are moving Larry Nance Jr. and two first-round picks to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.


Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
Full trade on ESPN: Dejounte Murray for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, 2025 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of Bucks-Pels)

[DallasMaverick]

Charania] Pelicans are moving Larry Nance Jr. and two first-round picks to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

If Zion implodes, those draft picks might be really valuable.

[KillerLeft]

Charania] Pelicans are moving Larry Nance Jr. and two first-round picks to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

Lolololol that is NOT a big package, and if rumors are to be believed, that's more than the offers they were getting for Trae Young. 

Also, where does this leave Mccullum? Does he play with Murray?

[Scott41theMavs]

Green + Kleber for Cam just makes so much sense
just depends on what else you'd have to add. Hopefully the Nets really like Green's potential

Before Brooklyn went into firesale mode, I would have said, "Way more draft capital than the Mavs have." CJ is a perfect fit next to Luka - a poor man's Mikal on a lot of levels. You'd clearly be bringing him in to replace DJJ as the starter, so then you have to look at the cost/benefit of taking away DJJ's role, the increased salary he's going to want to compensate for that, at what point does DJJ then price himself out from the Mavs' POV. Such a deal makes all the sense in the world for the Mavs, but hard to see how there wouldn't be 28 other teams knocking on Brooklyn's door with a better offer.

[KillerLeft]

Charania] Pelicans are moving Larry Nance Jr. and two first-round picks to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.


Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
Full trade on ESPN: Dejounte Murray for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, 2025 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of Bucks-Pels)

Dude...these are not great picks, I don't think. Maybe that Lakers pick has a chance of being a lottery pick, but it sure seems like THEY think they'll make the playoffs.

[F Gump]

Or if we add in Maxi, we can get a guy making 23.65M. But a 2 for 1 we have to account for an empty roster charge, so let's say 21.4

A 4 year deal starting at 21.4 with 5% raises is 92mil. It sounds a lot (*cough for Klay*) but the breakdown is:
21.4
22.5
23.6
24.7

The cap is just going up so that number is gonna hurt less and less. Secondly, looking at this roster construction contract wise, we don't have a guy making anything in their 20s. We basically have Luka+Kyrie and a bunch of MLE deals. Now that's great in terms of keeping costs low, but if we're trying to upgrade the roster in a couple of years after the Kyrie window is closed, it'll be good for us to have a 20 something mil deal that's close to expiring that we can add with an MLE level deal that can get us a difference maker.

Yes those numbers would work.

The question is how much salary (and what players) GS would be willing to take back. If you erase the salaries of both CP3 and Klay (because he just signs elsewhere, not a SNT), they are under the tax line. They are about 144M with 10 players so far, without either.

They might want to use the big MLE. Or they could take back about 20M in match salary for Klay, if it yields better value players than the MLE offers.

One thing that might be relevant -- as long as the Mavs stay below their Apron number (ie, Apron minus cushion), they can do a trade greater than 100%. It's their Apron number that matters most.