Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DanSchwartzgan]

It does make sense. Mavs still have the BAE and MLE. If they target a player with the full MLE, this suddenly becomes a lot less enticing for Biberovic. Subtract the buyout the BAE for him is a 10/2 deal. Probably not that far above his net salary in Turkey, where he can win the EuroLeague, be a superstar and gets guaranteed playing time. 

If Klay stays and we assume the extra MLE player will be a guard, then the minutes at his positions SG/SF will be hard to come by between Flagg, Marshall, Christie, Thompson, MLE Guard and Biberovic . As usual a higher salary means more incentive for the team to give you minutes. I´m Biberovic, I´d also hesitate until I know who the MLE player is and whether Klay stays or not.

Biberovic plus a MLE player gets you to 16 guaranteed contracts if I'm not mistaken.  So, if we continue down this rabbit trail, maybe that means Klay gets bought out.  Tarik at the BAE and someone else getting the full MLE puts them into the tax unless Klay gives a discount in his buyout (or the MLE player comes in slightly under the full amount).  Something in the area of a $2.0mm discount would do the trick.

It feels like Dallas is trying to do its work without needing the kindness of strangers.  If LAC matches (if indeed this is Mathurin), then just keep Klay.  If Biberovic wants part of the MLE, then Dallas would have to send out salary to get both and would then depend on negotiatiing with both the player and the other team.