Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[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.