Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[Smitty]

This is the first confirmation that Dan's idea might actually be possible. Kudos to him, and for the record I'm into it. I suppose it hinges on just what "lucrative extension" means, however. What do we think that's likely to be? More than Gafford is making, I'll bet.

He's a RFA, so that helps keep the number down some. I'd guess $20-25M AAV.

[Mavs2021]

@esidery
The Pacers are shopping Bennedict Mathurin in hopes of landing an impact starting center.

Due for a lucrative extension this offseason, Indiana has already prioritized Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith over Mathurin in terms of new long-term contracts.

So basically the trade urgency of the Pacers comes from getting something for Mathurin now before they enter the Kuminga zone.

I don´t see what he adds to the team in a position we already have Christie. Also judging by recent developments for shoot and nothing else players anything above the MLE seems an overpay. Gafford should be used for an expiring + 2026 late 1st round pick. I´m pretty confident that is in play with several teams: Boston, Golden State, Atlanta(/Cleveland)....

If you trade Gafford for Simons and the Boston 2026 1st round pick. You can extend Simons for less than Mathurin and he´s a better player imho. And you got an additional 1st round pick out of it.

[Chicagojk]

Mathurin scares me.   Heck, anytime one of the "good" organizations is open to moving on from a young player it concerns me.   Especially teams with good coaches.  Indy sort of has a logjam at the guard position, but they are hoping to be back next year.   Sort of concerning they are ok moving a player who feels like his upside is quite high.

[F Gump]

This is the first confirmation that Dan's idea might actually be possible. Kudos to him, and for the record I'm into it. I suppose it hinges on just what "lucrative extension" means, however. What do we think that's likely to be? More than Gafford is making, I'll bet.

He's an interesting name. But how much Mathurin is likely to get on a new deal is a key (and perhaps deal-killing) issue -- is he going to be worth what he wants, and it's hard to see how the Mavs would be able to absorb a giant raise when they are already likely to be dealing with A2 issues.

[Dirknows]

I'm not into Mathurin.  He is very similar to Kuminga.  (slightly smaller version)  A guy that could be good if he played a role but he wants the ball and to score 20ppg.

Super inefficient scorer.  He was shooting 42% from three a month ago.  I knew that was a mirage.  Down to 37% already.
Does not offer any playmaking.  (2 assists per game)
Does not use his physical skills to be an imposing defender.



Now, he would fit positionally better than Kuminga.  He is a bit of a slasher that could start alongside Christie and Flagg in a smaller lineup.  His FT% is good so maybe some long term potential to be a better shooter. 
Plus if we don't have any better offers, I wouldn't hate it.  Just not a player I'd target.


CLIFFS:  I'd like players that can either play make or shoot, ideally both.  Kuminga and Mathurin do neither.

Mathurin seems like a guy who just wants to get his buckets and that’s it. I’m definitely not looking to move Gafford just to pay him 25 million a year.

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
Nothing has really changed with respect to Dallas and Jonathan Kuminga from what we wrote Monday: To this point he has only been mentioned as a Mavericks trade target in the event traction developed between the teams on an Anthony Davis deal.

[KillerLeft]

@TheSteinLine
Nothing has really changed with respect to Dallas and Jonathan Kuminga from what we wrote Monday: To this point he has only been mentioned as a Mavericks trade target in the event traction developed between the teams on an Anthony Davis deal.

I take this to mean they view him more as expiring salary than a prospect (though I suppose this particular salary relief would come with a slightly higher chance of being an intriguing fit after a short audition than Porzingis/Kennard). Under those circumstances, I wouldn't mind Kuminga, because the real prize would be something else, like draft capital. I imagine GS is hoping Kuminga is worth something as a player, not just matching salary that expires, and is probably trying to avoid adding picks to move him. Maybe they view a player like Davis as a reason to include a pick or two, only...

I kind of doubt this deal happens, because while I can envision GS thinking Davis is a fit, I think their team is too old to be willing to take a risk of forgoing the rest of this season with this latest hand injury, and I bet the remaining two years on his deal is about the total length of their interest in him. No telling where that team will be in two more years, but my money would be on "done," so I doubt they look like a solution to Rich Paul and AD.

[KillerLeft]

Today is the day a lot of players are finally eligible for trade, correct?

[KillerLeft]

He's a RFA, so that helps keep the number down some. I'd guess $20-25M AAV.

Yeah, you'd have to be pretty confident you were getting a starting-level fit on your newly made team to commit to that, I'd say. Judging by many of the comments, it doesn't seem like most around here would be. I suppose they could view him as expiring salary, either right away or next year. What would his QO be, just out of curiosity?

[mvossman]

I take this to mean they view him more as expiring salary than a prospect (though I suppose this particular salary relief would come with a slightly higher chance of being an intriguing fit after a short audition than Porzingis/Kennard). Under those circumstances, I wouldn't mind Kuminga, because the real prize would be something else, like draft capital. I imagine GS is hoping Kuminga is worth something as a player, not just matching salary that expires, and is probably trying to avoid adding picks to move him. Maybe they view a player like Davis as a reason to include a pick or two, only...

I kind of doubt this deal happens, because while I can envision GS thinking Davis is a fit, I think their team is too old to be willing to take a risk of forgoing the rest of this season with this latest hand injury, and I bet the remaining two years on his deal is about the total length of their interest in him. No telling where that team will be in two more years, but my money would be on "done," so I doubt they look like a solution to Rich Paul and AD.

I think it was already dead before the AD injury.  They don't want to give up Green or Butler and there is no other avenue to do it.  Even if they were willing, Mavs have no interest in those players so you would have to involve a third team.  Never seemed like there was any chance.

[KillerLeft]

Also, and call me crazy if you wish, but I honestly think there might be a couple of under the radar DLO suitors out there. Even with the player option, he's on a great contract...unless you think he's totally done, which I personally don't. Clearly, he wasn't up to the challenge of being what the Mavs needed to be a real team this season, regardless of what we think about the chance he got to try. But, he can still handle, score and shoot. I can totally see a team looking at him, his contract, and thinking they could use him in a 6th man role for the rest of this year and next.

It's definitely not the kind of deal teams are dying to make, but when teams start striking out on their primary target deals, I can see something happening with DLO right before the deadline, maybe?

[Smitty]

There are a couple ways a Davis trade to GSW could go, all of them require a 3rd team. Some Discord folks brought up the idea of sending Draymond to DET for T. Harris (expiring). The "prize" in any Warriors deal would be the '26 and '28 FRPs.

DAL: Tobias + Kuminga + Moody + '26 & '28 FRP GSW
GSW: Davis + DLO
DET: Draymond + (insert any player on the Mavs roster you want up to $9.2M)

[KillerLeft]

I think it was already dead before the AD injury.  They don't want to give up Green or Butler and there is no other avenue to do it.  Even if they were willing, Mavs have no interest in those players so you would have to involve a third team.  Never seemed like there was any chance.

Yeah, maybe so. Even if you're wrong (you're probably right), GS is one of the teams for whom I think that hand injury is probably a deal-breaker. Just too much uncertainly in terms of this season, and Curry's clock is ticking fast.

[Smitty]

Yeah, you'd have to be pretty confident you were getting a starting-level fit on your newly made team to commit to that, I'd say. Judging by many of the comments, it doesn't seem like most around here would be. I suppose they could view him as expiring salary, either right away or next year. What would his QO be, just out of curiosity?

$12,256,222

[mvossman]

There are a couple ways a Davis trade to GSW could go, all of them require a 3rd team. Some Discord folks brought up the idea of sending Draymond to DET for T. Harris (expiring). The "prize" in any Warriors deal would be the '26 and '28 FRPs.

DAL: Tobias + Kuminga + Moody + '26 & '28 FRP GSW
GSW: Davis + DLO
DET: Draymond + (insert any player on the Mavs roster you want)

I would do that in a heartbeat.  I would probably do it for one pick.  I like Moody.  That would be salary relief, a good young player and a pick.

[Kidnova]

I would do that in a heartbeat.  I would probably do it for one pick.  I like Moody.  That would be salary relief, a good young player and a pick.

I must be totally missing the boat on Kuminga.  I don't watch a lot of Warrior's games, but just looking at the stats he seems to be an okay role player at best.  For those of you that have seen more of him, what's the appeal?

[Dirknows]

I must be totally missing the boat on Kuminga.  I don't watch a lot of Warrior's games, but just looking at the stats he seems to be an okay role player at best.  For those of you that have seen more of him, what's the appeal?

He’s young, maybe has some untapped potential, biggest thing is he has a team option for next year, so essentially you’d be getting a try out from him for 2 months to see if he fits, if not he’s expiring.

[mvossman]

I must be totally missing the boat on Kuminga.  I don't watch a lot of Warrior's games, but just looking at the stats he seems to be an okay role player at best.  For those of you that have seen more of him, what's the appeal?

To be clear, I like that trade because of the expiring salary (Harris + Kuminga), the player (Moody) and the pick.  Kuminga is little more than salary filler for me in that deal.  You can try him out for 20 games and maybe showcase him for an S&T, but the player draw in that deal is Moody.

[Mavs2021]

Klay + Hardy for Kuminga is probably the fallback option for the Warriors, if they find nothing else for Kuminga. Could explain why Kuminga likes the Mavs, since he wants any deal done asap, so he can play basketball again. Mavs would also let him play for his next contract, unless he plays so well that he sabotages the tank. At which point you basically guarantee his team option for next year and strategize his playing time.

There is plenty of upside in Kuminga´s contract structure, maybe more than in the player itself. And the Mavs are a good situation for Kuminga, too.

[Smitty]

@MavsFilmRoom
Tim MacMahon said the Mavericks had a meeting about Jonathan Kuminga last week.

With a team option on his contract for next season, it would give them a young player to take a chance on and a potential expiring contract.