MAVS NEWS:

[Chicagojk]

1 You cannot combine a NS TE with anything else to take back a player with a larger salary.  Obviously that doesn't work re KD's massive salary.
2 But if the Mavs opt to be a team over the 1st Apron (as it appears they are going to have to do), they can't use their NS TE's they have now anyhow. 
3 Using a NS TE in essence adds that amount of extra salary to your payroll, which is contrary to what the Mavs will need to be doing to cram 15 players under Apron 2.

That having been said, I can fashion a trade that does add KD and leaves a core of talent for 2025, allowing for hard cap room under Apron 2 to fill the roster back up, and the result would look like this. 

Outgoing in KD trade (about $12M of which would have to go to a facilitating 3rd team) would be
Klay, Gafford, Martin, Marshall, Powell, OMax, Hardy, 2025 1st, other draft capital

The 2025 Mavs roster then looks like this:

C -  Lively, minimum, minimum
PF - AD, Edwards (minimum), minimum
SF - KD, PJW [backs up both forwards], minimum
SG - Christie, minimum, minimum
PG - Kyrie, Exum ($7M), Williams (minimum)

You also almost certainly move forward in ensuing years as a team OVER Apron 2, with the penalties that flow from that. And your peak window is probably about 2-3 years.

Thanks for the explanation.    The only push back I would have is that PJ would be moved instead of Klay.  For one, I don't think PHX would have any interest in Klay.  Second, I really think the team is higher than Klay than a lot of us.   

For PHX, picks plus Gafford, PJ and stuff is something maybe they could get Booker to stick around for a bit longer.

[mvossman]

Thanks for the explanation.    The only push back I would have is that PJ would be moved instead of Klay.  For one, I don't think PHX would have any interest in Klay.  Second, I really think the team is higher than Klay than a lot of us.   

For PHX, picks plus Gafford, PJ and stuff is something maybe they could get Booker to stick around for a bit longer.

Of course they are, Klay is a Nico guy.  They probably start Klay over Max too.  How great would that be?  4 guys in their mid 30s with significant injury history.  But don't worry, we also have Lively and Exum who are pillars of health.  The odds of that team making it to the playoffs even close to full strength is approaching zero.  

It would be an impressive turnaround.  Just a few months ago this was a very young team with a core built around Luka that were all in their mid 20s or younger with the exception of Kyrie.  In a little over a year Nico may convert that to the oldest team in the NBA with an incredibly bleak future.

[Smitty]

@GrantAfseth
For what it’s worth, I was told that Dwight Powell has done full workouts in Miami during All-Star break.

Someone who observed told me, “I wouldn’t have known he was coming back from something if you hadn’t mentioned it.”

We’re still awaiting a clear, official update, though.

[Smitty]

   

Martin on Instagram suggesting he’s close to returning.

[F Gump]

Thanks for the explanation.    The only push back I would have is that PJ would be moved instead of Klay.  For one, I don't think PHX would have any interest in Klay.  Second, I really think the team is higher than Klay than a lot of us.   

For PHX, picks plus Gafford, PJ and stuff is something maybe they could get Booker to stick around for a bit longer.

Just the minor swap of PJW for Klay as outgoing in that theoretical swap may be a deal-killer on the money. That's a swing of about $2M extra on Mavs payroll, and the scenario I offered was already bumping up against the Apron 2 hard cap. 
 
IOW Klay probably HAS TO be outbound in that theoretical KD deal. 

So...if you want PJW also going to PHX, you likely have to include BOTH Klay and PJW in the deal. Or PJW is outbound and Gaff stays. 

I can see Klay being routed to Team 3 rather than PHX, if Klay and Booker don't fit together.

Or if you are sensible GM, you just don't trade for KD.

EDITED TO ADD - My math above assumes 2 things that are not absolutely necessary, but to me they are necessary. 
1st, I assume Mavs must have enough money to fill all 15 player slots with their Apron money. Even if they leave the last slot open for a time, the strictness of the hard cap for an entire year would be a bigger issue if you are only able to pay 14 players (which is the minimum). 
2nd, I assume they need money available to pay Exum to return. I budgeted that at 7M, which is a raise (in light of his ability) but far below the MLE (which I don't think he can get near because of his injury history). Another big injury, or a desire for more than 7M, would change that. FWIW, without a KD trade, they look to have about 10M for the combo of Exum and SD, of which I'd give 7.8M to Exum (on a 1+1, offering potential for another raise in a year, and being a legit "all we can possibly pay" number) which leaves minimum salary for SD or someone else (I'm thinking Williams would be the answer). But Mavs could want to navigate those financial waters differently.

[Chicagojk]

Martin on Instagram suggesting he’s close to returning.

I would have kept Grimes and the pick.  Although, I will keep an open mind on this trade (This One!).    I don't know much about Caleb besides the finals run and watching from a distance while in Miami.   He was thought to be a great signing by Philly.  It didn't turn out that way.   So lets see what he can do.  I view him as a tough, physical player.  While I thought Grimes defense was fine, I have a feeling Kidd didn't like something.  We will see.    I think Martin probably can guard bigger players.   Again, I thought Grimes was fine here.   Grimes best position is guard though.  I think his minutes may have been cut with Christie.   Anyway, for mavs hopes he better be able to play some positive minutes.

I have watched some highlights and he has a quick first step...at least he did in Miami. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWgM-VosdJo

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Martin can probably guard similar guys as DJJ

[F Gump]

Martin can probably guard similar guys as DJJ

I was way in on DJJ and his value to the Mavs. Very disappointed he got away, was hoping they'd get him back.

CM lacks the other-worldy athletic gifts of DJJ, which are way off the charts. But if he can be on the same level defensively somehow, that would be a great get. We'll see.

[LukaMVP]

Martin usually plays better in the playoffs than he does in the regular season, that's another reason Nico traded for him imho.

[audiosway]

Or if you are sensible GM, you just don't trade for KD.

I'm on that train. I don't think trading for KD is a good idea. PHX wants too much. He can still score for sure. But, I wouldn't go out and give up much for him.

[Smitty]

Martin usually plays better in the playoffs than he does in the regular season, that's another reason Nico traded for him imho.

The shooting splits are a good indicator.

Regular season: 
45% FG 
36% 3PT 
74% FT 

Playoffs: 
49% FG
40% 3PT
78% FT

[OBX Maverick]

@GrantAfseth
For what it’s worth, I was told that Dwight Powell has done full workouts in Miami during All-Star break.

Someone who observed told me, “I wouldn’t have known he was coming back from something if you hadn’t mentioned it.”

We’re still awaiting a clear, official update, though.

Yay

[Winter]

The excitement for Dwight Powell is palapable.

Someone find a fitting meme.

[Chicagojk]

Dun max christie video. Especially the defense.

Is the mid range game and dribble drive real and sustainable?

https://youtu.be/XQAXf9nnMGI?si=Qm9IvFNp64O88DCV

[Winter]

Dun max christie video.  Especially the defense.

Is the mid range game and dribble drive real and sustainable?

https://youtu.be/XQAXf9nnMGI?si=Qm9IvFNp64O88DCV

He and Marshall are both fearless in the paint. They score when defenders are crawling right up their jerseys.

We never used to have guys like that. Now it feels like we have about 5 of them. But Marshall and Christie are particularly good at swishing floaters.

[loki]

The excitement for Dwight Powell is palapable.

Someone find a fitting meme.

AAC when Dwight takes the court:

[balkis11]

Max Christie was a steal.

[audiosway]

Max Christie was a steal.

I personally feel like Dallas got a star in AD and a potential star back in Max. I might get roasted for that. But, at 21 he is already a great 2 way player.

[Reunion Mav]

I personally feel like Dallas got a star in AD and a potential star back in Max. I might get roasted for that. But, at 21 he is already a great 2 way player.

I’m not doing any roasting tonight. If we do get a reasonably healthy AD and Max continues his very welcome upward arc then we successfully use the first in a solid trade then we will have gotten a top 5-7 player, a solid 2 way wing starter and an upgrade through trade. That is a lot of value. Unfortunately we still probably lose the trade. Luka was that good and Maxi will look better with the no big men Lakers. Our problem is that we lost 10 years of hope for an annual contender that seemed pretty realistic. Hope is a huge loss!

However, our hope was only hope, not a guarantee. Perhaps it turns out we already got what turns out to be Luka’s best years. Perhaps Luka’s extreme percentage of the luxury tax would have turned us into Phoenix. We will never know now. That in itself hurts. Fortunately we do have a lot of top level talent still to root for. PJ and Powell will be back soon. Yea. I guess.   But no roasting for seeing a silver lining that is actually quite nice to see.

[david75090]

I remember seeing a silver lining, once. It was surrounded by a dark cloud.