Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

I think they keep Maxi and hope he gets hot during a run with backup duty.  The issue with him too is he has another year left on his contract.  I have trouble to believe a team would view as a positive asset.  Maybe mavs resign him to a Dwight type contract too.

Any thoughts what Chris Boucher would go for without giving up a first or  Omax?

I agree that Maxi is probably a negative asset and he probably has more value to this team than any perceived value by another team.  I think its more likely he gets traded in the offseason or next TDL when he can be considered an expiring contract.

[Mavs2021]

I agree that Maxi is probably a negative asset and he probably has more value to this team than any perceived value by another team.  I think its more likely he gets traded in the offseason or next TDL when he can be considered an expiring contract.

He has scored more than three points in one of 16 games. He´s an obvious liability on offense. I don´t see why Omax can´t get an extended run here.

[KillerLeft]

He has scored more than three points in one of 16 games. He´s an obvious liability on offense. I don´t see why Omax can´t get an extended run here.

I think I agree.

I am still probably the biggest Kleber fan on the board, but I’ve never really liked him at the 4. He’s just not athletic enough to hang there, going up against NBA forwards. When you think back to all of his successful stretches, the stretches that made him a fan favorite, they all came at the five. That is his position. If they can afford to pay him his current salary as a 3rd center, I am all about keeping him around, but I hate watching him go out there and be invisible at the floor every night.

Time for O-Max.

[myconsumerclub]

I think I agree.

I am still probably the biggest Kleber fan on the board, but I’ve never really liked him at the 4. He’s just not athletic enough to hang there, going up against NBA forwards. When you think back to all of his successful stretches, the stretches that made him a fan favorite, they all came at the five. That is his position. If they can afford to pay him his current salary as a 3rd center, I am all about keeping him around, but I hate watching him go out there and be invisible at the floor every night.

Time for O-Max.

Our biggest hole that needs filled is PF behind PJ. We are solid as heck at starters and at backup with every position but PF. Shoot Powell hit a 3 tonight so maybe, nah that ship has sailed and too mkuch mileage there. We need to view this from the impact on future salary when we need to cut new deals to keep guys that we want to keep so I would look for players at the TDL that play PF and not make any big trades except to acquire draft capital because next years draft has a lot of decent talented big PF's who can hit the 3 well. Add one at 25 and if another is there in the 2nd round you add a PF/C to add some insurance at both positions. 

Third string looks good with Hardy Omax Gortman & Powell but its time to upgrade a the back up 4/5  with guys who have skill enough to play multiple positions and do the job from the perimeter and move fast enough to cover the rim as well. If they can hit a 3 and block shots then sweet, I am all for adding talent in the draft to add lower cost talent that may turn out to be productive early on in their career and become that bargain we need to gain another leg up on the competition because OKC CLE and BOS all look tough and even MEM and HOU look great and by golly SAN is nipping at our heels as well. Gafford is servicveable and an efficient scorer so keep him and add to the position via the draft to add a PF/C who can be developed to replace him long term and hopefully develop into an upgrade.

[DL2RimRocker]

Our biggest hole that needs filled is PF behind PJ. We are solid as heck at starters and at backup with every position but PF. Shoot Powell hit a 3 tonight so maybe, nah that ship has sailed and too mkuch mileage there. We need to view this from the impact on future salary when we need to cut new deals to keep guys that we want to keep so I would look for players at the TDL that play PF and not make any big trades except to acquire draft capital because next years draft has a lot of decent talented big PF's who can hit the 3 well. Add one at 25 and if another is there in the 2nd round you add a PF/C to add some insurance at both positions. 

Third string looks good with Hardy Omax Gortman & Powell but its time to upgrade a the back up 4/5  with guys who have skill enough to play multiple positions and do the job from the perimeter and move fast enough to cover the rim as well. If they can hit a 3 and block shots then sweet, I am all for adding talent in the draft to add lower cost talent that may turn out to be productive early on in their career and become that bargain we need to gain another leg up on the competition because OKC CLE and BOS all look tough and even MEM and HOU look great and by golly SAN is nipping at our heels as well. Gafford is servicveable and an efficient scorer so keep him and add to the position via the draft to add a PF/C who can be developed to replace him long term and hopefully develop into an upgrade.

Agree...it would be ideal to acquire a legit 4/5 guy who can be our backup for PJ and 3rd option center but I'm not sure who will be achievable.
For now, I'd still like to see OMax get all of Maxi's PF minutes and Maxi be limited to insurance/situational as a 3rd option center until he is traded.

Playing OMax now makes sense to me because he can be showcased for a trade or developed further to a point to be somewhat useful for the POs if someone gets dinged up or in foul trouble.

[mvossman]

Count me in the give Omax some minutes club. And I am not talking about garbage minutes. He is a support player and needs minutes with actual rotational players.

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
Ben Simmons is a player teams will be monitoring as a buyout candidate from the Nets before the trade deadline.

Simmons holds no trade value on a massive $40.4 million expiring contract, but there’s intrigue for a potential buyout to join a contender on the veteran’s minimum.

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral
@TheDunkCentral
The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly shopping Zion Williamson, per @jovanbuha

“Based on the reporting intel, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones are at a certain level for them. They want to keep them. Those are two guys that are going to have a high price to give up, similar to L.A.

[Chicagojk]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
Ben Simmons is a player teams will be monitoring as a buyout candidate from the Nets before the trade deadline.

Simmons holds no trade value on a massive $40.4 million expiring contract, but there’s intrigue for a potential buyout to join a contender on the veteran’s minimum.

I think Zach Lowe had it right last year.  Until Simmons shows he is not afraid of free throws, he is not a serious player.  This year, he hardly has shot any free throws.  I do t care if he shoots 40%.  Showing he is not scared being fouled is step 1.  

Also, please shoot a three.  Doesn’t need to take many but not shooting any seems like a bit.  Just do it.  He doesn’t need to be the marksman Dwight Powell is but how many of us can be?

[DanSchwartzgan]

I’ve been doing a little lurking as we’ve gotten closer to trade season and thought I’d make an observation or two:

I think it is a fools errand to construct deals that send any of our top-8 out.  Our starters plus Grimes/Naji/Gafford is a really strong group.  This summer?  Sure, we can talk.  But, I don’t see it as likely right now.

I appreciate FG’s look ahead at the 2025 picks and the lack of roster space to add two picks.  Trading one now or later makes sense.  I will point out that Nico has gotten tremendous value for picks.  So, I suspect we won’t get some replacement level has-been with the 2025 first if we trade it.

FG has given us a nice salary range to shop from when he talked about Maxi, Powell and Exum (or Hardy possibly depending on timing) being the right trade match for DFS at $15mm.  The $18.1mm outgoing (with Exum included) provides space for filling in the holes created by a 3-for-1.

I would point out that we are in a great position to be a buyout destination if we clear some salary.  So, Maxi going out doesn’t have to necessarily bring back a backup PF if a backup PF can be found on the buyout market.  I’ll add that a 2-for-1 is needed in order to create room for a buyout and we’d need to do it in a way that creates space for a $2.1mm salary.

Quite a few names have already been mentioned here that happen to also fit in the budget that is logically derived when you look at what is likely to be the outgoing…Avdija, DFS, I. Stewart, J. Clarkson, Toppin, Kelly O, Portis, Coby White, Nance, Thybulle.  Like most, I’m drawn first to the PF’s on the list.  But one name here keeps coming back to me as worth further conversation…Coby White.

To me, he and Avdija are the most pick-worthy players on the list.  If the outgoing is Maxi/Exum/Pick, the exact amount needed for a $2.1mm minimum contract (buyout) is created.  He’s extension eligible this summer and young enough to still be here after Irving moves on.  We are always going to need another PG as long as Luka and Kyrie need time off.  White can absolutely run the bench unit alongside Grimes, Naji and Gafford and it bumps SD back to a place in the lineup that I’m more comfortable with (yes, I acknowledge he’s been regular season great so far).  

I get that PF is more likely.  The biggest negative here is that you have to count on some combo of Naji/Maxi/Powell/Luka to be your backup PF.  But, if they have intelligence that someone decent might get bought out, then Coby White intrigues me.  We are trying to build a dynasty here.  An incredible bench is something cash-strapped teams can’t afford and something we already have.

[SleepingHero]

I’ve been doing a little lurking as we’ve gotten closer to trade season and thought I’d make an observation or two:

[F Gump]

About buyout players, there is a ban on a team signing one whose pre-buyout salary was greater than big MLE, if the team is over Apron 1 iirc. That may remove some competition for the cream of the crop.

But while I mention such players, it seems to me that the quality of the options has died out under 2023 CBA. That new deal tweaked free agency and extensions and lessened the number of players who get to free agency. Now, both teams and players usually see an advantage over keeping the rights intact for potential SNT angle in the upcoming free agent market. Used to be that any veteran soon to be on the move would routinely be bought out, and get a chance to get a playoff run, but not so much anymore.

[SleepingHero]

Quite a few names have already been mentioned here that happen to also fit in the budget that is logically derived when you look at what is likely to be the outgoing…Avdija, DFS, I. Stewart, J. Clarkson, Toppin, Kelly O, Portis, Coby White, Nance, Thybulle.  Like most, I’m drawn first to the PF’s on the list.  But one name here keeps coming back to me as worth further conversation…Coby White.

To me, he and Avdija are the most pick-worthy players on the list.  If the outgoing is Maxi/Exum/Pick, the exact amount needed for a $2.1mm minimum contract (buyout) is created.  He’s extension eligible this summer and young enough to still be here after Irving moves on.  We are always going to need another PG as long as Luka and Kyrie need time off.  White can absolutely run the bench unit alongside Grimes, Naji and Gafford and it bumps SD back to a place in the lineup that I’m more comfortable with (yes, I acknowledge he’s been regular season great so far).  

I get that PF is more likely.  The biggest negative here is that you have to count on some combo of Naji/Maxi/Powell/Luka to be your backup PF.  But, if they have intelligence that someone decent might get bought out, then Coby White intrigues me.  We are trying to build a dynasty here.  An incredible bench is something cash-strapped teams can’t afford and something we already have.

To actually reply to your observations, I've never seriously considered Coby White as an option, mostly because I think CHI values him too much and view him as a piece to keep in their rebuilding phase. He's flashed incredible scoring prowess the last two years and is still only 24.

But once you started delving into the money math and a deal centered around Maxi+Exum carves out juuuuuussst enough space for a minimum guy, I am incredibly interested now. Especially since there is news that Ben Simmons may be bought out. What better Maxi replacement than a 6'10 switchable defender who can pass? It's not like we care about Simmons' lack of shot making (though it means he'd barely be able to be played in the playoffs, but same with Maxi).

[DanSchwartzgan]

To actually reply to your observations, I've never seriously considered Coby White as an option, mostly because I think CHI values him too much and view him as a piece to keep in their rebuilding phase. He's flashed incredible scoring prowess the last two years and is still only 24.

But once you started delving into the money math and a deal centered around Maxi+Exum carves out juuuuuussst enough space for a minimum guy, I am incredibly interested now. Especially since there is news that Ben Simmons may be bought out. What better Maxi replacement than a 6'10 switchable defender who can pass? It's not like we care about Simmons' lack of shot making (though it means he'd barely be able to be played in the playoffs, but same with Maxi).

We may have to lower our salary sights a bit in terms of buyout candidates.  Think more like Nance after Atlanta trades him somewhere.

White is in a strange position with Chicago.  He’s not good enough to build around, but once they trade off some more scorers, he might score enough to force them to pay up to keep him.  I’m happy to pay him MLE money, but not $20mm.  They are aware of this conundrum in Chicago (which is why his name is out there as a possibility).

[mvossman]

We may have to lower our salary sights a bit.  Think more like Nance after Atlanta trades him somewhere.

White is in a strange position with Chicago.  He’s not good enough to build around, but once they trade off some more scorers, he might score enough to force them to pay up to keep him.  I’m happy to pay him MLE money, but not $20mm.  They are aware of this conundrum in Chicago (which is why his name is out there as a possibility).

Yeah, I'm afraid White is going to fall into that too expensive 6th man bucket.  

Nance would make a lot of sense here.

Nice to see you back.

[Mavs2021]

White just signed a 33/3 extension. He´s still under the cheap contract next season. You acquire him now, you got 18 months to learn whether he´s a potential Kyrie successor.

Simmons would obviously be the perfect Maxi replacement. If he can give Luka trouble, he can do Tatum or Brown.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Yeah, I'm afraid White is going to fall into that too expensive 6th man bucket.  

Nance would make a lot of sense here.

Nice to see you back.

Thanks.  To be clear, I was meaning that Simmons was too expensive as a buyout.

I suspect the team will ‘graduate’ to above the first apron next season as they pay Grimes.  That will give them a bit more wiggle room in the near term.  The trick will be 26/27 when Luka kicks in to his big extension.  That is where the Irving deal becomes pivotal.  Can something creative be done there.  Recall, he took well under his max this last time.  Is he more interested in the per-year number or the total contract. 
 
Then you have to worry about Lively.

I don’t ascribe to White being too expensive to keep in the role he would play here.  But, it depends on Kyrie’s number.  The good news is you can figure all of this out this summer as White and Irving (and half the team) will be extension eligible.  Again, White is not the most likely outcome, but it intrigues me.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

I like Larry Nance as a low minute Maxi replacement that can defend 4/5, space the floor some, and much better passer than Maxi if we have a deal sending Maxi out. Kelly Olynyk would fit nicely too, but will probably cost a quality pick.

Also, I’m with the board consensus that Omax needs minutes now. Put Maxi in mothballs until post all-star break.

[F Gump]

If we figure Grimes comes back on a Josh Green type deal (which was a shade below big MLE), then the Mavs have reasonably workable routes to stay below A1 in the summer.

If they moved Kleber and Hardy at the deadline, that might reallocate money to afford a big MLE too ( or, alternatively, for salary for player they trade for). Of note would be DFS who might be a FA and might fit that MLE.

What trade they do before the TDL, if any, should have a big bearing on how they view A1. There's also the issue of what they think they might need to add in the summer, or if they will think their roster building is already done before then.

[KillerLeft]

I should have known we’d find a way to discuss potential trades, despite finally reaching a year where Mavs activity seems unlikely, to say the least. I’m not complaining, mind you - it’s nice to have well written, well reasoned stuff to read!

If we go on the premise that the top eight are safe, which I think is pretty sound logic, I just don’t see how any of the names we are discussing could be possible. Even with the 2025 first, there’s not very much value in that package. It would be one thing if Kleber's contract was expiring, but he’s got another year left so part of that likely-to-be-late 1st’s value has to be viewed as payment for offloading that, I’d think. IDK… Maybe a team who thinks, as I do, that Kleber is being played out of position here this season, might have some interest in him? I’m sure a lot of teams would love to have Powell on his current contract, actually, but not enough to give up the kind of player we’re discussing. I suppose it’s possible that someone really, really still believes in Hardy out there, but all three of those things are sort of low stakes “what ifs” and these are pretty serious names we’re throwing out there as possible targets.

From Dan‘s list of targets, I also love White. I love DFS, and Toppin, too. At the end of the day, I don’t think the package we are discussing of outgoing assets gets any of them. Maybe DFS, but I’m skeptical about him, even.

I might be way, way off, but I think the two most likely scenarios are that they do nothing at all, or that they DO move off of someone from the top eight for something a little bigger than what we are expecting. I won’t bring up Herb Jones again because I can tell no one thinks he is really available. But, maybe someone else on his level who might be WORTH a shakeup with the top 8.