12-13-2025, 10:42 AM
(12-13-2025, 10:18 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Welcome to the play-in. Currently already up to #10 in the West.
I go though all of that to wonder out loud if there might be a Klay (or Klay/Dlo or Klay/Powell or Klay/Hardy) trade out there even if we are trying to win with Kyrie back. Olynyk/Carter Bryant?
The Mavs only need to finish the regular season at 8 for the chance at a 1-game shot for the 7 seed and avoiding OKC entirely. Well, until Coop leads us to the WCF of course.
The Klay thing is tricky to me. He’s been much better and this team needs the shooting/spacing he provides. I was moving him in the rumored Mathurin/Gafford swap, because I see his role being filled there. It was a 3 team deal, but doesn’t have to be.
DAL: Mathurin, Kleber (expiring), Vincent (expiring)
LAL: Klay, Hardy
IND: Gafford
I struggled with who would need a “sweetener”. The expiring Maxi and Gabe frees up $23.5M next season, with Klay and Hardy off the books. That feels like a good year 1 starting number for Mathurin as a RFA.
Klay to Lakers doesn’t have to be the team either. I was just getting him to LA and on a “contender”. Several teams could use him and have an expiring or two. The framework is there.