Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[mvossman]

What's the most money we could give Mathurin?

I dont believe in the player but I wouldn't hate the gamble at a reasonable number.  If we have to pay this dude big money for four years, I am so out.

I believe close to 20 mil if its a Gafford trade.  Would have zero interest in anything close to that.

[Moviemavguy]

I believe close to 20 mil if its a Gafford trade.  Would have zero interest in anything close to that.

It's worrisome that Rick Carlisle didn't want him anymore.

[Scott41theMavs]

I believe close to 20 mil if its a Gafford trade.  Would have zero interest in anything close to that.

Folks here (especially FGump) have convinced me he’s not appropriate to what they’re doing. However, if they surprise me, I’ll take a wait and see approach, but I would be a bit disgruntled over anything over $15 mil AAV, but that’s not going to be enough to land him anyway, so I’m not sure why I even bothered to say it.

[KillerLeft]

1.  Dallas is $2.3mm under the tax.  The absolute smallest salary Mathurin can receive and still legally match Gafford is $19,527,168 (half of that plus $7.5mm has to match $17,263,584).  If that deal were done today it is legal and would leave Dallas $34k under the tax. 

Here's a chunk of Dan's great post from the other day, just as a reference. We don't know if the Mathurin stuff is real, but if it is I think it's safe to say the front office likes his potential quite a bit to pursue him at this number. 

There are probably ways to match a cheaper contract and not include either PJW or Gafford as the outgoing, but I don't think it's worth wasting too much time thinking about those paths. The whole NBA world has been reporting that Dallas offered Gafford for Mathurin at the trade deadline, and LAC seems to need a center, so...it's really just about whether Dallas still wants him, wants him on that level of contract and whether LAC wants to let him go, imo. I doubt they're looking to do a Mathruin for Thompson deal, for example, and it's not like Dallas has draft capital laying around to use on something like this.

What's interesting to me is that the other guy everyone agrees they offered Gafford for at the deadline was Risacher, and now he's here. We knew Risacher was a potential target as a means of offloading AD at the time, but I've seen it out there a lot since the trade that ATL turned down an offer of Gafford at the time, too. It might be coincidence that both the Ricardi/Finley version and the Ujiri/Schmitz version of the front office liked Risacher, but I've been wondering if they (Ujiri, at least) weren't already consulting from afar?

This has been such a crazy summer for the Mavs. I love that it's still going!

[txrwdyreptile]

Kinda like Luka and LeBron did?

Most everyone (who knows bball) knew this version of the lakers was not getting out of the west as currently constructed. Bad bigs, poor team athleticism, limited wings doomed that team. LeBron is 40+ while coop will be better player than this LeBron in 2 years plus we’ve got athletic bigs and several wings. Put Luka on this Mavs team and that’s a contender (if lively can play).

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It's worrisome that Rick Carlisle didn't want him anymore.

I don't think necessarily Carlisle didn't want him. He needed a center after Turner left, so Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two 1sts and a 2nd was needed to acquire Zubac and Kobe Brown.

[Scott41theMavs]

Most everyone (who knows bball) knew this version of the lakers was not getting out of the west as currently constructed. Bad bigs, poor team athleticism, limited wings doomed that team. LeBron is 40+ while coop will be better player than this LeBron in 2 years plus we’ve got athletic bigs and several wings. Put Luka on this Mavs team and that’s a contender (if lively can play).

Not to mention how massively superior Coop is on defense to Queen Jane right now.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Anthony Slater on the Lakers: "Rob Pelinka keeps calling about Jonathan Kuminga"

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Houston Rockets and Jae’Sean Tate have agreed to a one-year, $3.07 million deal, which is partially guaranteed for $1.04 million, league sources told @hoopshype .

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Boston Celtics and Jordan Walsh have agreed to a 3-year, $16 million extension, which includes two years fully guaranteed and a third-year team option for the 2029-30 season, sources said. Boston had picked up Walsh’s $2.4 million team option for the upcoming season.

x.com

[KillerLeft]

Anthony Slater on the Lakers: "Rob Pelinka keeps calling about Jonathan Kuminga"

x.com

Man, I just don't see it. ATL isn't taking Vanderbilt's contract back. It would have to be another 3-way like the DAL/OKC/ATL with another TPE involved (or cap space), and there aren't many destinations left. Plus, LA doesn't have anything to use to pay the team taking Vanderbilt. 

Then again, I also don't know how Kuminga gets the contract he's looking for anywhere at this point, so...maybe his price will drop to a more workable level?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

That quote is probably from Jonathan Kuminga's agent, desperately trying to create a market for his client.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I believe close to 20 mil if its a Gafford trade.  Would have zero interest in anything close to that.

1yr 20mil with a team option for 2nd year 

No way im locking him up long term at that AAV.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I remember this dude was shooting >40% from three last year when his name first surfaced on this board.  I was like what the hell this guy is not a good shooter, how is he at 40+%.  Ended the year at 31.5%.  For the Clippers, he averaged 28 minutes played per game.  Attempted only 3.2 threes per game.  Made them at an abysmal 21% clip.

Ugh I really dont like the player.

[F Gump]

It might be coincidence that both the Ricardi/Finley version and the Ujiri/Schmitz version of the front office liked Risacher, but I've been wondering if they (Ujiri, at least) weren't already consulting from afar?

Yep. At least as early as the decision-making on the AD trade and perhaps sooner. Remember how Dumont suddenly did an unexpected U-turn on whether to trade AD? 

I think after they met and conferenced at length in December, PD weighed his options and by the TDL (before any AD trade) he was getting feedback.

[F Gump]

1yr 20mil with a team option for 2nd year 

No way im locking him up long term at that AAV.

CBA says it would have to be at least 3 years.There's really no way to do a test run - if you snt for him, you gotta go all in on him being a big part of your future for several seasons.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Here's a chunk of Dan's great post from the other day, just as a reference. We don't know if the Mathurin stuff is real, but if it is I think it's safe to say the front office likes his potential quite a bit to pursue him at this number. 

There are probably ways to match a cheaper contract and not include either PJW or Gafford as the outgoing, but I don't think it's worth wasting too much time thinking about those paths. The whole NBA world has been reporting that Dallas offered Gafford for Mathurin at the trade deadline, and LAC seems to need a center, so...it's really just about whether Dallas still wants him, wants him on that level of contract and whether LAC wants to let him go, imo. I doubt they're looking to do a Mathruin for Thompson deal, for example, and it's not like Dallas has draft capital laying around to use on something like this.

What's interesting to me is that the other guy everyone agrees they offered Gafford for at the deadline was Risacher, and now he's here. We knew Risacher was a potential target as a means of offloading AD at the time, but I've seen it out there a lot since the trade that ATL turned down an offer of Gafford at the time, too. It might be coincidence that both the Ricardi/Finley version and the Ujiri/Schmitz version of the front office liked Risacher, but I've been wondering if they (Ujiri, at least) weren't already consulting from afar?

This has been such a crazy summer for the Mavs. I love that it's still going!

Just to be clear, those financials were for a straight up one for one deal of Gafford for Mathurin.  The point of that particular number was the flexibility Dallas left itself to do such a deal and stay under the tax if something blows up around the Kawhi investigation.  It was a tea leaf.

If Dallas and Denver join in the larger Toronto/LAC deal there is greater flexibility around Mathurin’s number.  We’ve all seen the deals this summer that don’t guarantee all years of the contract and S&T deals only have to be guaranteed for the first year of the required three (see Middleton’s deal for reference).  So, we don’t know a number yet and we don’t know how many years it would be guaranteed for…IF this happens.  No need for anyone to get their panties in a wad over money yet.

One of the objections I’ve seen to this has been no national reporting of this…not an issue any more.  Some have said LAC will keep him.  I don’t see it, especially if they trade for Watson.  And how are they going to fill that gaping hole at center?  I’ve read that Mathurin isn’t needed because we have a SG rotation of Christie/Klay/Biberovic…I laughed out loud.  Klay is standing in the way?  That’s the objection?

I do think Mvossman’s concern about how this fits with Naji is something to consider.  Recall that Naji was brought here to be the 3&D replacement for DJJ.  He didn’t have it from 3 and was forced into a creation role none of knew he had.  I disagree that Mathurin and Naji are equivalent scorers.  Naji is a one-level scorer who is really good at the rim and with floaters near the basket.  He contributes nothing to spacing.  Are we sure what he does well is important to the new regime?  Mathurin can create for himself at three levels.  He’s not great at any of them…yet, but he takes 3’s and gets to the line with volume (and hits his FT’s).  If the efficiency was a bit better, these would be pretty good traits in a bench scorer who can create for himself while the stars sit. 

I think you are right to point out the past interest in Mathurin (and Risacher) and I agree with your theory about Masai influencing decisions from afar. It just makes too much sense.  Much of what we are seeing is throwing high upsides gambles against the wall and hoping something sticks.  It is just as true of Mathurin as it is of Sasser, Risacher, Rez and Larry.  I’m glad you see it.

[F Gump]

"We’ve all seen the deals this summer that don’t guarantee all years of the contract and S&T deals only have to be guaranteed for the first year of the required three..."

Technically true factoid, but incredibly misleading to think it's relevant with Mathurin (which is why I didn't even mention it). 

From Mathurin pov, he is NOT going to sign his free agent deal with only one year guaranteed and then potentially not have a guarantee later. From Mavs pov, what's the point of signing a player and then waiving him in a year? It's not a one-year deal which you get to redo in a year. No way to later resign him for a different number. 

The one-year version works in using a not-in-demand player like KM as trade matching filler (in which case he often gets a bit more than he might otherwise), but it's certainly not what is used on a player who you plan to keep. 

Anyhow, any Mathurin SNT will undoubtedly be a 3-or-more year commitment (at generally whatever price range you start him). PERIOD. Let's not muddle the thinking on how he does (or doesn't) make sense to invest in by pretending otherwise. There won't be a one-year or a two-year commitment, it will be AT LEAST 3.

[KillerLeft]

Much of what we are seeing is throwing high upsides gambles against the wall and hoping something sticks.  It is just as true of Mathurin as it is of Sasser, Risacher, Rez and Larry.  I’m glad you see it.

Man, you said it. I'd go a step further and suggest that adding young talent with potentially exciting upside is basically ALL they're doing right now. I don't know how to reconcile the Kawhi Leonard or Hachimura rumors with that paradigm, exactly, but as far as everything that has actually happened...it seems pretty obvious that they've prioritized adding as much young, potentially exciting talent to the "rebuild around Flagg" effort as possible this summer.

I won't lose any sleep over them missing out on Mathurin if they don't get him (or if we find out they never wanted him, if that makes people feel better), but for my money he's just as exciting as any of the other guys they've brought in so far, and more exciting than a bunch of them.

[rocky164]

Man, you said it. I'd go a step further and suggest that adding young talent with potentially exciting upside is basically ALL they're doing right now. I don't know how to reconcile the Kawhi Leonard or Hachimura rumors with that paradigm, exactly, but as far as everything that has actually happened...it seems pretty obvious that they're looking at having very little draft capital over the next few years to either use or trade (and much less flexibility after this summer, maybe) and have prioritized adding as much young, potentially exciting talent to the "rebuild around Flagg" effort as possible this summer.

I won't lose any sleep over them missing out on Mathurin if they don't get him (or if we find out they never wanted him, if that makes people feel better), but for my money he's just as exciting as any of the other guys they've brought in so far, and more exciting than a bunch of them.

Here’s where I land on Gafford for Matherin.  Gafford is a need for the Clippers and while Matherin is not a need here nor does he fill all the guard check boxes we have open, but he is a good young player who still may develop.  Ultimately for me, if Matherin doesn’t work out he’s more tradable than Gafford.  So it’s trading a lesser asset for a hopefully greater asset.