Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Mavs2021]

Hield is a horrible defender. Even if Klay has lost a step, he's still better than Hield.

Opponent´s OFF RTG with Klay on floor 118.9
Opponent´s OFF RTG with Klay off floor 111.4

GS was far superior defensively with Podziemski and/or Moody in place of Klay. There is a reason he was benched for a rookie. There is so much potential for a disaster in this signing (injury, age decline, team chemistry) and the best case scenario is that he´s healthy, below average on defense, but remains an elite one-dimensional knockdown shooter.

[dirkfansince1998]

No roster is perfect but DJJ and Grimes are great PoA defenders. There’s no perfect player available. Your point about Kleber is valid. Some are higher than others on Omax and one could argue that Lively shooting 2 threes a game is just as good as Maxi. But I think we both agree that Maxi at the 4 is not ideal and that’s his role here. I agree though, he’s important and would be a hole that must be filled by others.

What other player rumored available that Green+Maxi can return would you rather have?

Jerami Grant
Cam Johnson
Deandre Hunter
Bruce Brown
Andrew Wiggins
Kyle Kuzma
Tobias Harris
Pat Williams
KCP

Some will cost picks, others probably not. I don’t see a single player that fits PoA defender, elite shooter, 36 mpg playoff starter.

The issue isn't that the Mavs wouldn't have POA attack defenders. But where do you find minutes for them if Kyrie, Luka and Klay are starting/playing 30+ minutes.
Kleber is not only the 5-out big. He is also their switch all big. A skillset that Lively and Gafford don't offer. Mavs would lose a lot of their lineup versatility without him.

There is no perfect solution. Mavs don't have the assets to get the kind of player that can fix all of their issues. Doesn't mean that they should settle for a player that creates as much issues as he fixes. Mavs don't have to make a trade just for the sake of it. They don't have to trade Green+Kleber this summer. And if they make a trade they don't have to chase the biggest available name.

[SleepingHero]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
ESPN Sources: The Atlanta Hawks will not deliver a qualifying offer to forward Saddiq Bey, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent.

[JamesConway912]

The issue isn't that the Mavs wouldn't have POA attack defenders. But where do you find minutes for them if Kyrie, Luka and Klay are starting/playing 30+ minutes.
Kleber is not only the 5-out big. He is also their switch all big. A skillset that Lively and Gafford don't offer. Mavs would lose a lot of their lineup versatility without him.

There is no perfect solution. Mavs don't have the assets to get the kind of player that can fix all of their issues. Doesn't mean that they should settle for a player that creates as much issues as he fixes. Mavs don't have to make a trade just for the sake of it. They don't have to trade Green+Kleber this summer. And if they make a trade they don't have to chase the biggest available name.

Correction: Mavs would lose a lot of their - theoretical - lineup versatility.

The biggest ability remains availability. Counting on Kleber to magically start not missing 40+ games every season is wishful thinking at best nowadays.

It‘s beyond time to move on.

[Mavs2021]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
ESPN Sources: The Atlanta Hawks will not deliver a qualifying offer to forward Saddiq Bey, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent.

They are a mess. What´s his QO? Maybe 10M? Even the Bulls were smart enough to give one to Coby White. Literally nobody came with an offer. They re-signed him on the cheap and the rest is history.

[JamesConway912]

Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
ESPN Sources: The Atlanta Hawks will not deliver a qualifying offer to forward Saddiq Bey, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent.

He’ll probably sign a minimum or BAE deal. Wouldn’t be a bad reclamation project. I also like Jabari Parker. Adding a PF with range for the deep bench would add some flexibility.

[SleepingHero]

Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth)
If the Lakers open the full non-taxpayer MLE, seems like Derrick Jones Jr. would be the logical target.

Jones signed to Klutch Sports Group close to free agency, the first representation change of his 9-year NBA career.

Mavs GM Nico Harrison referred to re-signing Jones as “priority 1A and 1B” before trading Tim Hardaway Jr. to open the full MLE themselves, but recent reports have increasingly linked them to Klay Thompson.

[SleepingHero]

They are a mess. What´s his QO? Maybe 10M? Even the Bulls were smart enough to give one to Coby White. Literally nobody came with an offer. They re-signed him on the cheap and the rest is history.

Tore his ACL and shot pretty mediocre for the last 2 seasons. Hawk fans on Hawksquak said he was a traffic cone on defense (but who wasn't on that team?).


Still, Bey would be a pretty sound reclamation project for a bunch of teams and I'm shocked they're just letting him go. I know their cap issues aren't the best but still.

[SleepingHero]

John Hollinger (@johnhollinger)
As noted in here -- Hawks could theoretically bring Saddiq Bey back on a cheapo one-year deal while he rehabs torn ACL, and then re-signs with Bird rights next summer. But paying him the $8.5 million QO was, much like Bey, a non-starter.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5601646...rae-young/

[SleepingHero]

Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth)
If the Lakers open the full non-taxpayer MLE, seems like Derrick Jones Jr. would be the logical target.

Jones signed to Klutch Sports Group close to free agency, the first representation change of his 9-year NBA career.

Mavs GM Nico Harrison referred to re-signing Jones as “priority 1A and 1B” before trading Tim Hardaway Jr. to open the full MLE themselves, but recent reports have increasingly linked them to Klay Thompson.

Grant trying to connect some dots because of the Klutch connection, but truthfully I don't see the fit. Lakers have Vando already and the last thing they need are more defensive minded guys with an inconsistent 3. 

The guy I think the Lakers are actually targeting is DeMar DeRozan with their MLE if you wanna call me crazy.

[Reunion Mav]

Regarding Maxi, don’t forget the rule that we must always have a player from Wurzburg. Kidding ?

[dirkfansince1998]

Correction: Mavs would lose a lot of their - theoretical - lineup versatility.

The biggest ability remains availability. Counting on Kleber to magically start not missing 40+ games every season is wishful thinking at best nowadays.

It‘s beyond time to move on.

True. And the reason why I would prefer a Maxi replacement over Klay.

[SleepingHero]

True. And the reason why I would prefer a Maxi replacement over Klay.

I think there's a chance the Mavs are targeting a potential Maxi replacement next year in the 2025 draft. Teams are clamoring over that draft for a reason.

As of now, the guy's that make the most sense as a bargain bin replacement to me are RoCo and Batum. Precious Achiuwa is also very interesting but is a RFA.

[SleepingHero]

Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto)
The Detroit Pistons won’t tender Malachi Flynn a qualifying offer, league sources told @hoopshype. The 26-year-old guard, who scored a career-high 50 points earlier this season, will become an unrestricted free agent.

[dirkfansince1998]

I think there's a chance the Mavs are targeting a potential Maxi replacement next year in the 2025 draft. Teams are clamoring over that draft for a reason.

As of now, the guy's that make the most sense as a bargain bin replacement to me are RoCo and Batum. Precious Achiuwa is also very interesting but is a RFA.

RoCo hasn't played a single game in 2024. Right knee injury. Isn't Batum retiring after the Olympics? Achiuwa is a good option but I would assume that he gets more than the minimum.

[Deebo]

Forget about jones jr especially if he’s being difficult. Get better player.

[loki]

I want a forward more than another guard. Grimes is the best chance the Mavs have at a 2-way player in the PoA defender role. I'm afraid that Klay would either stunt his development or cut down DJJ's role (making it pointless to give him the full NTMLE).

While that logjam plays itself out, we would be praying that PJ doesn't miss any significant time. If he does they really have no one to step in and hold down the fort.

[loki]

RoCo hasn't played a single game in 2024. Right knee injury. Isn't Batum retiring after he Olympics? Achiuwa is a good option but I would assume that he gets more than the minimum.

Last I read was that Philly planned to re-sign Batum, so I don't think even they know if retirement is his plan.

[Jym]

I'm shocked by the amount of people who think starting Klay here would be a good idea
Would he be great in a 20 mpg sniper role off the bench tho? yes, that'd be great for a contract around the MLE

just seems like another guy we'd need to hide defensively and you can't hide 3. We can barely hide 2

[Smitty]

I'm shocked by the amount of people who think starting Klay here would be a good idea
Would he be great in a 20 mpg sniper role off the bench tho? yes, that'd be great for a contract around the MLE

just seems like another guy we'd need to hide defensively and you can't hide 3. We can barely hide 2

I think the Mavs can survive 24 minutes of Klay’s elite shooting and 24 minutes of DJJ’s elite defense. Would be great if those two combined their skill sets. 

Just another guy to add to the one-way bunch the Mavs have.