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

[KillerLeft]

@"KillerLeft"

I am mostly responding to anyone who wants a shot at Giannis or another player next summer in free agency by saying the Mavs do NOT need to clear space now. 

Getting off contracts now should be in no way a priority of any kind UNLESS you are targeting capspace THIS offseason (which is possible). If the Mavs are wanting to be a player next summer then just continue to Acquire Talented Trade-able Assets through the draft, through free agency with exceptions, and through trades. But do not "clear space"...way too premature for that IMO. You can clear space WHEN you need it as long as you have talented, trade-able assets.

Right, I get your intent, and I agree. I do NOT think others reading always fully understand this argument of yours. I think they read that and think "Yes! Trade THJ for Tobias Harris!"

"Acquire Talented Trade-able Assets" as you put it is basically another way of saying "run a team." EVERY team sets out every day of the year to do exactly that, and they all believe they're succeeding...until they realize they aren't. Washington didn't sign Wall to that contract because they were itching to be totally screwed for 3-5 years, void of any hope. 

There IS a level of contract you can't "just move next year to create space." There just is. And, there are several levels of contract below that will be difficult enough to move that you'd have to attach assets (which you don't have) to do so. I think it would be INSANE for the Mavs to hamstring themselves in that way, and not just because of Giannis. Like @"Mavs2019" points out, there will be other options! 

I like @"DanSchwartzman"'s wording a lot, and it's what I've been trying to express for months. "You don't have to clear the decks, but you have to stay within easy striking distance."