Trade & FA 2023-24: OKC The Favorite For Nic Claxton Should He Leave BRK

[BigDirk41]

I love all the false hope these exercises are generating for us. The only real hope for the offseason is that 1) Lindsay has a major voice in strategy and player evaluation, and 2) that Finley hits on another draft pick again (not necessarily at 10). Outside of that, all of the suggestions and scenarios being devised here are pipe dreams. Remember Brunson, and remember the opening of free agency where we had a ton of cap space and good FAs available, the Mavs didn't tamper like the other 29 teams did, Cuban went to dinner, and we got virtually nothing.

Based on Mavs history, nobody can really argue your view unfortunately. Until they prove us wrong, you're most likely correct.

[StepBackJay]

I've created the perfect trade: https://twitter.com/StepBackJay77/status...7416988678

[SleepingHero]

Interesting Jarrett Allen trade from a Cleveland site  (you'd have to change 2025 to 2027 and either unprotect it or protect if for only that draft and have it convert to something else if it doesn't convey):

Laying out a Jarrett Allen trade

The Dallas Mavericks are another team whose season did not end the way they wanted it to, so they are a logical team to be pursuing shake-up trades. In this trade idea, the Cavs trade Allen to the Mavericks and get back two contributors in addition to a first-round pick:

The idea for the Cavaliers is that they trade one start for two. The Cavs could start Reggie Bullock at small forward and Maxi Kleber at power forward, giving Cleveland a four-out look around Evan Mobley at center. It would increase their spacing and, given the defensive chops of both Bullock and Kleber, still give them a stout defensive frontcourt.

For the Mavericks, they trade two non-stars for a star at center, potentially giving them three if Kyrie Irving re-signs this summer. Jarrett Allen would give this team a defensive identity inside, something they need after jettisoning their best defenders recently, and on offense he can both serve as a pick-and-roll partner with Luka Doncic and Irving and clean the glass after their jumpshots.

Dallas probably jumps in and makes this deal, letting Christian Wood walk and re-signing Dwight Powell as a backup. The loss of Kleber would be painful, but they tend to go star-hunting.

https://kingjamesgospel.com/2023/05/12/g...valiers/2/

I would be ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL over that type of trade. 

Which gave me pause. I read through the article and it seems as if the CLE authors also agreed this isn't a realistic deal for Allen.

It may be that the Cavaliers have to trade Jarrett Allen someday to help this team advance in the playoffs. Perhaps that say will even come this offseason or during the season if the right trade comes along. This deal, for an injury-prone forward in Maxi Kleber and a streaky shooter in Reggie Bullock, is not that deal.

Grade: C

[DanSchwartzgan]

I would be ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL over that type of trade. 
Which gave me pause. I read through the article and it seems as if the CLE authors also agreed this isn't a realistic deal for Allen.

Quote:

It may be that the Cavaliers have to trade Jarrett Allen someday to help this team advance in the playoffs. Perhaps that say will even come this offseason or during the season if the right trade comes along. This deal, for an injury-prone forward in Maxi Kleber and a streaky shooter in Reggie Bullock, is not that deal.

Grade: C

With all due respect to fan sites, I remember watching a Cleveland based podcast with MUCH less value coming to the Cav's.  They were just ready to move on from their twin towers and figure a way to get anything for Allen.

I think this analysis misses the mark on a couple of fronts.  Outside of about a six week period from mid May to the draft, an unprotected 2027 from Dallas is going to be worth a ton (especially given Luka's contract status and KI's age at that point).  In some circles, it will be like the post Lebron Laker picks everyone wanted last season.  Second, next summer Mobley will be up for his extension.  The summer after that, it will be Mitchell and Allen looking for a pay day.  It won't be too long before Cleveland will have three max guys and whatever they are paying Allen.  That doesn't mean Allen has to be traded now or for this package, but they need something different than what they have in Allen and need to move on from LaVert.  This package gives them valuable and low cost veterans plus an extremely valuable trading chip.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Cato trade ideas today:

1) Boucher and Porter Jr for pick #10 and Davis Bertans---My take- yuck!

2) OG and Thad Young for Hardaway, Green and #10-  Raptor guy says that isn't enough in article. 

3) Capella and 15 for Hardaway and 10-  Atlanta guys says he would sign off on this deal

4) Hunter and 15 for Josh Green, Bertans and 15-  Atlanta guy not very high on Hunter

5) Royce O'neal, Mills and pick 21 for Bertans and pick 10

6) Richaun Holmes for Davis Bertans

7) Nance, Willy Hernangomez, Garrett Temple for Reggie Bullock and JaVale McGee

Nance Jr is perfect for us, when healthy.  Count me out on lumbering bigs like Cappella.  HOU got rid of him when he was 3 years younger because he was clogging things up.

I love Hunter.  Bey also if we're talking about fleecing ATL.

I still say Eason is going to be a wing stud.  You can look at this like his 2nd year given he's 22yo.  

As much as I love OG and think he's perfect for what we need, the asking price is going to be too much.  We'd be left with a half eaten sandwich after him, Luka, and Kyrie.

[Jason Terry]

I've created the perfect trade: https://twitter.com/StepBackJay77/status...7416988678

I like the trade match with Brooklyn, but i don’t see them doing that deal. To get them to even listen it would be pick 21 OR 22. And Mavs would be sending the 2027 unprotected FRP as well

Something more like DFS, Oneale, 21 and 22 for Hardaway and 10

[Jason Terry]

Cato trade ideas today:

1) Boucher and Porter Jr for pick #10 and Davis Bertans---My take- yuck!

2) OG and Thad Young for Hardaway, Green and #10-  Raptor guy says that isn't enough in article. 

3) Capella and 15 for Hardaway and 10-  Atlanta guys says he would sign off on this deal

4) Hunter and 15 for Josh Green, Bertans and 15-  Atlanta guy not very high on Hunter

5) Royce O'neal, Mills and pick 21 for Bertans and pick 10

6) Richaun Holmes for Davis Bertans

7) Nance, Willy Hernangomez, Garrett Temple for Reggie Bullock and JaVale McGee

#1 i wouldn’t do. #2 is far short on ask price for OG. All the rest would be excellent deals and are in the realm of possibilities we should expect 

Holmes for Bertans is something I’ve thought about for awhile. If we trade Hardaway though I’d almost rather keep Bertans. It’s nice to have a 3pt specialist off the bench if we concentrate on defense and fall short on shooters after other moves

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

#1 i wouldn’t do. #2 is far short on ask price for OG. All the rest would be excellent deals and are in the realm of possibilities we should expect 

Holmes for Bertans is something I’ve thought about for awhile. If we trade Hardaway though I’d almost rather keep Bertans. It’s nice to have a 3pt specialist off the bench if we concentrate on defense and fall short on shooters after other moves

Agreed on Bertans.  6'10" and 39%3pt.  Not at his price, but in general has value.

What is the story behind Holmes?  I know a lot of people were pining to sign him as a FA.

[ItsGoTime]

Can’t play Bertans much this year or he won’t be eligible to waive for $5M. He is full sunk cost this year.

[dirkfansince1998]

Can’t play Bertans much this year or he won’t be eligible to waive for $5M. He is full sunk cost this year.

With the Mavs luck he probably has a Duncan Robinson like resurrection but the Mavs won´t be able to play him because of the contract situation.

[ItsGoTime]

With the Mavs luck he probably has a Duncan Robinson like resurrection but the Mavs won´t be able to play him because of the contract situation.

And so it goes.

[SleepingHero]

In my love of forever complicating ideas:

 3 team trade: 
Bullock+Maxi+#10 to ATL. 
THJ+Wood+2027 FRP DAL to CLE. 
Allen+Hunter+Collins+15 to DAL.

Mavs add 4.5 mil to salary but generate 3 starters. 

ATL saves 20 mil in space and move up to 10. CLE gets their starting wing in THJ and a great replacement big in Wood (I assume he's SnT for 3/45). 

Luka/
Kyrie/Hardy
Hunter/Green
Collins/
Allen/McGee/Powell

On paper is a great starting 5. Mavs starting 5 is 151mm (which is expensive). And leaves them with just about 20 mil for the bench and whatever guys.
Assuming they keep Powell, Morris, and Pinson as vet min guys, they have 12 guys including #15 pick. Bench is light but I like this roster.

EDIT: I'd probably go to BRK and offer Bertans+McGee+15 for DFS and finish this roster out.

Luka/Green
Kyrie/Hardy
Hunter/DFS/Pinson
Collins/Morris
Allen/Powell.

Total salaries: ~178 mil.

[F Gump]

In my love of forever complicating ideas:

 3 team trade: 
Bullock+Maxi+#10 to ATL. 
THJ+Wood+2027 FRP DAL to CLE. 
Allen+Hunter+Collins+15 to DAL.

Mavs add 4.5 mil to salary but generate 3 starters. 

ATL saves 20 mil in space and move up to 10. CLE gets their starting wing in THJ and a great replacement big in Wood (I assume he's SnT for 3/45). 

Luka/
Kyrie/Hardy
Hunter/Green
Collins/
Allen/McGee/Powell

On paper is a great starting 5. Mavs starting 5 is 151mm (which is expensive). And leaves them with just about 20 mil for the bench and whatever guys.
Assuming they keep Powell, Morris, and Pinson as vet min guys, they have 12 guys including #15 pick. Bench is light but I like this roster.

EDIT: I'd probably go to BRK and offer Bertans+McGee+15 for DFS and finish this roster out.

Luka/Green
Kyrie/Hardy
Hunter/DFS/Pinson
Collins/Morris
Allen/Powell.

Total salaries: ~178 mil.

I assume that's all one trade, incl BKN. Otherwise the trade math doesn't work for DAL. And BKN has to send a lot more salary to one of the other teams to make it legal (13 outgoing and 23 incoming doesn't match), and so does CLE (20 outgoing and 32 incoming doesn't match), which only leaves ATL to take it all, and there goes the bulk of that big salary savings.

I might hope for more favorable terms on the swaps with the various teams, but overall would I do it? Sure. But not sure Cuban would. (For reference, the tax bill at the 2nd apron is exactly $36.875M for a non-repeater.)

But there's not $20M more left to spend elsewhere. There's $0. Assuming Kyrie is at the same salary as Luka (rather than the max, which is 6M more), the 15-man roster you're envisioning (with min salary guys filling the rest) would total 179.9M on apron accounting, just a sliver under the 2nd apron. There's no MLE at all, so you're adding 4 more minimum salary guys and calling it a day.

Allen      Powell (min)/____ (min)
Collins   Morris (min)/ _____(min)
Hunter   DFS/ ____ (min)
Luka      Green/ Pinson (min)
Kyrie      Hardy /_____(min)

[DanSchwartzgan]

I assume that's all one trade, incl BKN. Otherwise the trade math doesn't work for DAL. And BKN has to send a lot more salary to one of the other teams to make it legal (13 outgoing and 23 incoming doesn't match) 

But there's not $20M more left to spend elsewhere. There's $0. Assuming Kyrie is at the same salary as Luka (rather than the max, which is 6M more), the 15-man roster you're envisioning (with min salary guys filling the rest) would total 179.9M on apron accounting, just a sliver under the 2nd apron. There's no MLE at all, so you're adding 4 more minimum salary guys and calling it a day.

Brooklyn has a TE that can absorb Bertans, so that solves the Brooklyn trade match issue.  But, I've read that Brooklyn will want to stay under the tax this season.  They still have to pay Cam Johnson and his proposed swap takes Brooklyn to the tax without Johnson.  So, at the very least, you have to pull McGee out of this and maybe you have to pull Bertans out of this and just S/W him.  Maybe the deal is 15/McGee for 21/O'Neale (see below on O'Neale).

Another problem is this has to wait to the new season to include DFS and Wood, but teams are making lottery picks on the hope Wood and his agent will play along.  I like this much better if Wood is left out and O'Neale replaces DFS and this is done in June.

Finally, I think this is just too ambitious in terms of adding wings.  We don't need Hunter and Collins on a team that also has DFS and Green (sure, it would be nice, but I think it is asking too much from Atlanta).  If you have Allen, Collins, Kyrie and Luka, Green is just fine as your fifth starter backed up by O'Neale.  

Allen       Powell     Min
Collins    Morris       Lawson
Green     O'Neale    Pinson
Kyrie       (MLE)      Holiday
Luka       Hardy      #21

This actually comes in a hair above the tax line if you S/W Bertans, get Powell for the minimum (I'm estimating higher, but for arguments sake...) and use the entire MLE.

[mvossman]

I love all the false hope these exercises are generating for us. The only real hope for the offseason is that 1) Lindsay has a major voice in strategy and player evaluation, and 2) that Finley hits on another draft pick again (not necessarily at 10). Outside of that, all of the suggestions and scenarios being devised here are pipe dreams. Remember Brunson, and remember the opening of free agency where we had a ton of cap space and good FAs available, the Mavs didn't tamper like the other 29 teams did, Cuban went to dinner, and we got virtually nothing.

To provide a little half full perspective, all of the Mavs futility is free agency related.  That's why I have always been skeptical of any plan involving heavily relying on free agency (like plan powder or letting Kyrie walk).  But most of the ideas being discussed right now are trades involving draft picks.  The Mavs have much better (if mixed) results going that route.

[Chicagojk]

With the FA, trade and draft talk, I hope the Mavs are putting in the grunt work on player evaluation. Regardless what they do in the the draft and trade, if they do not find a player or two in hiding, I don't think they have enough on their roster. They found Hardy last year and I am very high on him. But this team needs to find a Dort or Kenreich Williams. Or Caleb Martin. Etc. Either an undrafted guy or someone who has not hit yet trying to find their footing in the league. This team use to do this with DFS, Maxi, JJ Barea, Brendon Wright (maybe a stretch, but still). It has been a while. They need to find these guys. Even if they take a year or so to hit.

[StepBackJay]

What if the Mavs are really hot after Ayton?

https://medium.com/mavsforum/dallas-mave...3db2731db7

[BigDirk41]

I don't really mind that trade package as far as value, but the new CBA has me concerned about big money guys that aren't true game changers. I'm not a big fan of Ayton. I think he's a lazy player. He has the talent to be really good, but I'm not sure he wants it like he should.

[DanSchwartzgan]

What if the Mavs are really hot after Ayton?

https://medium.com/mavsforum/dallas-mave...3db2731db7

If I were Phoenix and this was acceptable, I’d pitch #10 and Reggie or McGee to Brooklyn for Claxton.  There is a strong CAA relationship with Phoenix that probably doesn’t exist in Dallas.  

I think there is a stronger 3-way here where Brooklyn takes McGee/Reggie/10 for O’Neale/21 and Phoenix gets THJ/Claxton.  I know you were trying to not give up THJ and instead give up Bertans.  Does getting O’Neale’s D make up for that?

[Chicagojk]

I think for any PHX trade, you have to strongly factor in their new owner. 90's Mark Cuban on steriods. His whole thing since buying the team is they are competing to win a championship every year and that he will do everything in his power to win a championship. He has Isaiah Thomas as a sounding board. I can't see him bowing down to tax concerns....at least this year. Maybe he is eventually hit over the head with it. But any move with PHX, you need to factor in do they think this makes them better next season. Does it put them closer to a championship? They may have less tradeable assets than Dallas, so they also need to hit on their limited assets.