Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Yeah, more evidence that KL, for all of his great contributions and basketball knowledge, doesn't understand who Cooper Flagg is yet.

None of know who Cooper Flagg is yet. Not you, me, the coaches...he's 19. 

What he isn't (yet) is a better iso scorer from above the break as a guard or wing than Benedict Mathurin.

[KillerLeft]

Mathurin is a nice player but he’s a scorer who needs the ball. Carlisle didn’t want him on the floor to start games next to Halliburton and Siakam.  He wouldn’t fit with Kyrie and Flagg either. There is only one ball. If he’s your 6th man, fine, but don’t take touches away from your most efficient players.

That would be the exact role I'd have in mind for him.

[KillerLeft]

That's essentially Dan's trade outline from yesterday. However, this one does not include Podziemski

Easy yes from me, but I doubt GS would do it. People will react like this isn't valuing the Dallas players involved, but the reality is that those 1sts GS has to trade right now are probably the most valuable assets in the league, other than the 4-5 best players still under 25. They are almost GUARANTEED to be a terrible team when that pick conveys. 

Plus, there's potential to flip Butler for more later if his recovery is on track. Obviously, I'd never intend for him to actually wear a Mavericks uniform.

[KillerLeft]

Rumors out of Russia that Seva is getting a 2-way with Dallas.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mavericks/comme...ve_twoway/

"According to sports commentator and journalist Vladimir Spivak, Dallas intends to offer guard Vsevolod Ishchenko a two-way contract."

I hope this is true. Not because of any kind of confidence over what the "right" way to develop him is or isn't, but just because I simply enjoy watching hm play. Even just the small chance that he'll get a 9 day stint with the Mavs and get on the floor twice next season is more exciting to me than shipping him off to some other continent. 

Selfish, I know, but that's the truth of how I feel about it.

[KillerLeft]

You can make an argument that Naji is a better ISO scorer.  He actually takes more unassisted shots by percentage and has a better TS% while Mathurin has a little more volume.  All the numbers are close, but Naji is a much better defender.  I get that Mathurin is younger, but I would rather just keep Naji than pay a premium for Mathurin.

This is all valid. 

I guess it kind of depends what "pay a premium" means. 

I prefer Mathurin to Marshall, but I agree it's an argument.

[KillerLeft]

Like the concept. Clearing cap space next year (as Dan as pointed out) has its benefits. But as a general rule, draft picks 7 years out do nothing for me. Accelerate that to something useful much sooner, and I'm a lot more interested.

7 years out is a challenge, I get it. 

But, that's a GOOD pick, almost guaranteed. And, the hope is that Dallas will be a good team by then (hopefully sooner) with the chance to use that pick to great benefit. Think of it like buying stock in Apple in the early 80's.

Also, look at all the cool things Ujiri and Schmitz were able to do this summer just by getting that Davis contract out of here. Setting themselves up for another round of that when Butler expires doesn't seem like the end of the world to me, personally.

Still...I get why some would hate the idea.

[F Gump]

If true, fantastic news. And then we only have to open one roster slot. 

If this comes true and he signs, I'll be very sad that Cjeter doesn't post on the board (Discord only) so that I won't have the opportunity to dunk all over him. There were a couple others on the board who asserted he was strictly and always a draft-n-stash, so I'll dunk on you in Cjeter's absence.

I'm your huckleberry!

You can do "told ya so" on me all you want, if Ishy signs a 2-way. But not until he is actually signed. In looking at this "report," such as it is, I am not convinced it's being accurately conveyed (however, with no link, we can't actually see what was really said and who said it). Let's see what happens. And I have certainly said the way he was acquired fits the profile of a draft-to-stash pick to a T.

To be clear, I'm not anti-Ishy. I just think it's a better plan for both Ishy's learning curve and for the Mavs roster-building pipeline for him to be stashed while there is such chaos on the roster already (and no spare minutes to be had). We'll see - I'm sure if I'm wrong that you'll let me know!

[SleepingHero]

Am I crazy to suggest a Zach Lavine consolidation trade?

Basically in the same vein as GSW, SAC has a huge salary issue and very little depth. They’ve been trying to trade Lavine this summer, but have been met with needing to attach assets because he had a player option for this upcoming season. They also tried to find teams that would’ve liked a SnT for Lavine. Well he went and opted into his deal and is now a 50 mil expiring essentially.

Thats a lot of money, and Sac is 300k away from being a tax team and need at least 2 more players to meet roster minimums. Which means, if the Kings just go and sign merry minimums, they are going to be a tax team for what is most likely a lotto team.

This means something has to happen. As is the Kings are thin at the 5 and the 3. Sabonis has also requested out.

With everyone jumping ship, getting some established contracts of proven vets could prove appetizing as they can be good trade bait.

A Lavine trade for Dallas can be relatively simple. Gafford+ Martin gets us halfway there and we just need 1 more contract.


This is where Miami comes in. We can send Klay there and send Jovic to Sac where they can take a flyer on the young player.

This lowers SAC’s tax bill considerably and fills out their roster.

The only issue is the Mavs now become a Tax team by about 3mil. We don’t really have a neat contract that fits into that salary amount, and even if we added PJ instead of Klay, we’d still be a tax team.

Perhaps we send out Christie and/or Naji for 1sts at the TDL?

The tax issue doesn’t need to be fixed until the TDL anyways. Just a thought.

[KillerLeft]

Am I crazy to suggest a Zach Lavine consolidation trade? 

Nope, I had the same thought yesterday after we discussed the Butler contract with GS. Essentially the same idea. Just like with GS, it's all about what you get out it and doesn't have anything to do with Lavine (or Butler).

[cow]

Perhaps we send out Christie...

[OBX Maverick]

I hope this is true. Not because of any kind of confidence over what the "right" way to develop him is or isn't, but just because I simply enjoy watching hm play. Even just the small chance that he'll get a 9 day stint with the Mavs and get on the floor twice next season is more exciting to me than shipping him off to some other continent. 

Selfish, I know, but that's the truth of how I feel about it.

Me too. I’m not surprised either. Hopefully he’ll get a chance to play with the team a bit

[KillerLeft]

Me too. I’m not surprised either. Hopefully he’ll get a chance to play with the team a bit

Well, it hasn't actually happened, yet! 

Very easy for those overseas guys to misunderstand things or get incorrect or non-current info before reporting something like that. 

Still, I'm encouraged and hopeful.

It's a little puzzling that we haven't heard about it yet, if this is really the case. I'm not sure there's any reason to delay, if they've already decided to go this way. Maybe they're putting the decision off until the end of camp?

[Tyler]

It's a little puzzling that we haven't heard about it yet, if this is really the case. I'm not sure there's any reason to delay, if they've already decided to go this way. 

Gotta formalize the buyout first. You can't sign a player who belongs to another team.

[DanSchwartzgan]

So, let me talk about why I think this is even more likely after the Risacher deal.  

1.  Dallas is $2.3mm under the tax.  The absolute smallest salary Mathurin can receive and still legally match Gafford is $19,527,168 (half of that plus $7.5mm has to match $17,263,584).  If that deal were done today it is legal and would leave Dallas $34k under the tax.  Before you fire off the response that says Dallas won't cut it that close, stay with me a bit longer.

2.  Dallas has 16 players and has to move on from one of them.  If a deal for Mathurin goes through, the easy button is to cut Klay since we now have Mathurin as our bench scorer man. As I noted in a previous post, the savings Dallas would receive from Klay giving a buyout that matches the Vet Min contract he would receive elsewhere is $1.1mm (it is only part of the contract he receives and there is a formula for determining that).  Now, insteead of being $34k under the tax, Dallas would be the $34k plus $1.1mm - much more comfortable cushion.  

Note also that if this deal never happens and we start the year with Gafford and want to keep Klay, all we've spent to give us flexibility while we wait on the Kawhi debacle to sort itself out is the $1.1 million part of Cisse's salary that is guaranteed.  Teams want to be positioned to not be dependent on the kindness of others and that is what Dallas has done here.  The matching of Cisse and the space left under the tax after Risacher lines up well with this theory.

The next logical question is why hasn't this happened yet.  We've heard reporting that the six team Aldama trade almost became a 7 or 8 team trade with Watson going to LAC.  I think the Clippers are waiting on the Kawhi thing to shake out before sending Mathurin to Dallas for Gafford.  Their preference is Watson, but if it doesn't happen, they need to keep Mathurin.  Also, part of what they intend to pay Denver - besides DSJ - might be some of the picks/swaps coming from Toronto in the Kawhi deal.  I think the investigation is not only holding up the big deal that has been announced.  It is also holding up the Watson to LAC deal which in turn is holding up the Gafford for Mathurin deal.  

I agree with the sentiment that Mathurin would fit well off the bench.  You want guys like him playing with Larry so that someone can create for themselves if the play breaks down.  It also allows you to keep two good self-creators (from among Kyrie, Flagg and Mathurin) on the floor most of the time.  I agree with those who don't love him starting and taking the ball out of the hands of either Kyrie or Flagg.  I think out top 11 will get minutes something like this:

Kyrie/Larry               Sasser
Christie/Mathurin      Biberovic
Flagg/Naji-Risacher  
P. J./Aldama             Martin
Lively/Morez             Cisse

[Scott41theMavs]

So, let me talk about why I think this is even more likely after the Risacher deal.  

1.  Dallas is $2.3mm under the tax.  The absolute smallest salary Mathurin can receive and still legally match Gafford is $19,527,168 (half of that plus $7.5mm has to match $17,263,584).  If that deal were done today it is legal and would leave Dallas $34k under the tax.  Before you fire off the response that says Dallas won't cut it that close, stay with me a bit longer.

2.  Dallas has 16 players and has to move on from one of them.  If a deal for Mathurin goes through, the easy button is to cut Klay since we now have Mathurin as our bench scorer man. As I noted in a previous post, the savings Dallas would receive from Klay giving a buyout that matches the Vet Min contract he would receive elsewhere is $1.1mm (it is only part of the contract he receives and there is a formula for determining that).  Now, insteead of being $34k under the tax, Dallas would be the $34k plus $1.1mm - much more comfortable cushion.  

Note also that if this deal never happens and we start the year with Gafford and want to keep Klay, all we've spent to give us flexibility while we wait on the Kawhi debacle to sort itself out is the $1.1 million part of Cisse's salary that is guaranteed.  Teams want to be positioned to not be dependent on the kindness of others and that is what Dallas has done here.  The matching of Cisse and the space left under the tax after Risacher lines up well with this theory.

The next logical question is why hasn't this happened yet.  We've heard reporting that the six team Aldama trade almost became a 7 or 8 team trade with Watson going to LAC.  I think the Clippers are waiting on the Kawhi thing to shake out before sending Mathurin to Dallas for Gafford.  Their preference is Watson, but if it doesn't happen, they need to keep Mathurin.  Also, part of what they intend to pay Denver - besides DSJ - might be some of the picks/swaps coming from Toronto in the Kawhi deal.  I think the investigation is not only holding up the big deal that has been announced.  It is also holding up the Watson to LAC deal which in turn is holding up the Gafford for Mathurin deal.  

I agree with the sentiment that Mathurin would fit well off the bench.  You want guys like him playing with Larry so that someone can create for themselves if the play breaks down.  It also allows you to keep two good self-creators (from among Kyrie, Flagg and Mathurin) on the floor most of the time.  I agree with those who don't love him starting and taking the ball out of the hands of either Kyrie or Flagg.  I think out top 11 will get minutes something like this:

Kyrie/Larry               Sasser
Christie/Mathurin      Biberovic
Flagg/Naji-Risacher  
P. J./Aldama             Martin
Lively/Morez             Cisse

Good work. But given how uproariously long this stupid investigation has already gone, and the lack of evidence that it’s going to be over/resolved anytime soon, my presumption as a Mavs fan is that the fallout of the delay - or the unfavorable outcome - will be (among other things) that this deal won’t happen. Edit: for example, a good punishment for the Clipps if they were involved would be to reduce all of their salary cap amounts (soft cap, tax line, the two aprons) significantly, which would make it impossible for them to take on more salary.

[KillerLeft]

Gotta formalize the buyout first. You can't sign a player who belongs to another team.

Great point. I'm dumb, you're smart. Thanks!

[mvossman]

I agree with the sentiment that Mathurin would fit well off the bench.  You want guys like him playing with Larry so that someone can create for themselves if the play breaks down.  It also allows you to keep two good self-creators (from among Kyrie, Flagg and Mathurin) on the floor most of the time.  I agree with those who don't love him starting and taking the ball out of the hands of either Kyrie or Flagg.  I think out top 11 will get minutes something like this:

Kyrie/Larry               Sasser
Christie/Mathurin      Biberovic
Flagg/Naji-Risacher  
P. J./Aldama             Martin
Lively/Morez             Cisse

That second unit has no spacing.  I think Naji is same ballpark as Mathurin in self creation (and a better creator for others) and Risacher provides more spacing than either.

[KillerLeft]

So, let me talk about why I think this is even more likely after the Risacher deal.  

1.  Dallas is $2.3mm under the tax.  The absolute smallest salary Mathurin can receive and still legally match Gafford is $19,527,168 (half of that plus $7.5mm has to match $17,263,584).  If that deal were done today it is legal and would leave Dallas $34k under the tax.  Before you fire off the response that says Dallas won't cut it that close, stay with me a bit longer.

2.  Dallas has 16 players and has to move on from one of them.  If a deal for Mathurin goes through, the easy button is to cut Klay since we now have Mathurin as our bench scorer man. As I noted in a previous post, the savings Dallas would receive from Klay giving a buyout that matches the Vet Min contract he would receive elsewhere is $1.1mm (it is only part of the contract he receives and there is a formula for determining that).  Now, insteead of being $34k under the tax, Dallas would be the $34k plus $1.1mm - much more comfortable cushion.  

Note also that if this deal never happens and we start the year with Gafford and want to keep Klay, all we've spent to give us flexibility while we wait on the Kawhi debacle to sort itself out is the $1.1 million part of Cisse's salary that is guaranteed.  Teams want to be positioned to not be dependent on the kindness of others and that is what Dallas has done here.  The matching of Cisse and the space left under the tax after Risacher lines up well with this theory.

The next logical question is why hasn't this happened yet.  We've heard reporting that the six team Aldama trade almost became a 7 or 8 team trade with Watson going to LAC.  I think the Clippers are waiting on the Kawhi thing to shake out before sending Mathurin to Dallas for Gafford.  Their preference is Watson, but if it doesn't happen, they need to keep Mathurin.  Also, part of what they intend to pay Denver - besides DSJ - might be some of the picks/swaps coming from Toronto in the Kawhi deal.  I think the investigation is not only holding up the big deal that has been announced.  It is also holding up the Watson to LAC deal which in turn is holding up the Gafford for Mathurin deal.  

I agree with the sentiment that Mathurin would fit well off the bench.  You want guys like him playing with Larry so that someone can create for themselves if the play breaks down.  It also allows you to keep two good self-creators (from among Kyrie, Flagg and Mathurin) on the floor most of the time.  I agree with those who don't love him starting and taking the ball out of the hands of either Kyrie or Flagg.  I think out top 11 will get minutes something like this:

Kyrie/Larry               Sasser
Christie/Mathurin      Biberovic
Flagg/Naji-Risacher  
P. J./Aldama             Martin
Lively/Morez             Cisse

I like Mathurin, and I'd view this as a reallocation of "luxury" salary from a position of plenty to a position of need, so I'd probably still be into it, but that number is a bit scary. The way teams have treated long term salary this summer, I'd say the Mavs would REALLY need to like Mathurin in order to do that.  

As always, thanks for the dot-connecting!

[Scott41theMavs]

That second unit has no spacing.  I think Naji is same ballpark as Mathurin in self creation (and a better creator for others) and Risacher provides more spacing than either.

Okay. How would you rearrange the lineup?

[KillerLeft]

That second unit has no spacing.  I think Naji is same ballpark as Mathurin in self creation (and a better creator for others) and Risacher provides more spacing than either.

Idk...I agree Mathurin with Marshall isn't the perfect fit, but I'm one (apparently in the minority) who doesn't expect Marshall to be here much longer, with or without Mathurin. 

And...Aldama and De Larrea being on the floor (and even Johnson, to an extent) represents more spacing than the BEST spacing lineups the team had last year, right? And, Biberovic, Sasser and Risacher are all available, possibly even forcing their way in with this group. 

AND, how often do you play 5 replacement players together at the same time, anyway?