Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[F Gump]

Gump, I liked every part of your post except the 6 guards argument. Kyrie, Max, Sasser, Sergio, Klay… looks like five to me, and one of those is likely getting waived if we can’t trade him (holding out hope). 

Unless of course you have intel that Seva will make the main roster. Still five. Factor in Kyrie’s 10-30 games missed and the guard rotation is a serious problem.

(Edit: unless you were just counting wrong, I would imagine you were counting some forward as a guard. To wit, Flagg, Aldama, Morez, PJ, Naji, Risacher, Tarik, and Martin are all forwards and listed as such.)

You're right.

My list was
PG- Kyrie, DeLarrea, Sasser
SG- Max, Klay, Tarik

I had listed Tarik as a SG. I never looked it up, I just watched his videos and that's what it looked like. You are correct that the Mavs have him as a F, and BR shows him as a SF, which would create an imbalance. Point taken.

So what does that mean? I'm still not seeing Mathurin as filling a need.

In theory they can "move" someone to be the 3rd SG as needed. (But these days aren't position labels kinda arbitrary and blurry anyhow?) Accepting they need players who can fill the needs, I'd rather Naji or Tarik or Risacher or Flagg play minutes at "SG" than find minutes to add Mathurin to the mix. Oh, and Poulakidas will also be available.

I don't think that leaves them badly needing Mathurin. It may mean they play some lineups that aren't standard, but then again, every team does that a lot these days. 

Re the question of "what if Kyrie gets injured," I guess we will find out if having 3 PGs is enough to fill their needs. Important point re Mathurin is his presence would not help that, if they need even more. They could have found another PG to add in a 3-way slot, but didn't, and they also gave up Nemby (for yet another SF, which they have tons of) -- so by their actions it sure feels like they feel they are fully stocked at PG, doncha think?

I would also think they see both Naji and Flagg as usable options for stints at PG as well as SG, certainly in an emergency but perhaps beyond.