DAL OFFSEASON: Trade & FA | Mavs "mostly done...but you never know."

[Mapka]

This is a random and stupid question that I’m sure has already been asked and answered, but what the hell:

In a situation where a player is going to opt out but the trade moratorium is lifted before the decision deadline, is it legal to trade that player before the option as a way of instantly reducing the new team’s payroll?

© A Team cannot trade any player after the NBA trade deadline occurring in the last Season of the player’s Contract, or after the NBA trade deadline occurring in any Season that could be the last Season of the player’s Contract based upon the exercise or non-exercise of an Option or Early Termination Option.

-> No.