Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DanSchwartzgan]

Thanks for that. He's 25 years old, so for me the FO needs to go all out on this guy to get him at his optimum.

You mentioned something yesterday about his contract (via Stein's article). About all I was able to fully comprehend from the original article is that it's complicated, and he'll need to help with finances to get out of that contract. However, is it correct to presume the Mavs can offer him a new contract to make up for his investment? I was having trouble putting the pieces together.

I don't think we know his exact salary in dollar terms, but we know he's turned down opportunities to come over in the past.  So, for argument's sake, let's say he makes $3.0mm US currently.  His buyout is reported to be $2.0mm and Dallas can pay $900k of that directly to his European team.  The player has to pay the rest which means you have to gross up his salary to give him $1.1mm net to pay off the buyout before Tarik starts to see any money.  For arguments sake, let's call that $1.8mm

So, it might take $4.8mm in salary before he breaks even with his $3.0mm assumed salary and the $1.8mm it might take to net $1.1mm to pay off his buyout...as an example.  Again, I don't know the numbers, but none of that smacks of a NBA minimum salary being enough to get it done.  If it isn't, then some part of some exception has to be used.