Dallas Mavericks 2025 Trade thread -- Roster and Cap -- 1st page updated on July 1st

[HMFFL]

I stole this from the General Board.

[Mr B]

I stole this from the General Board.

[41Dirk41]

It's even worse than Luka trade. No joke please.

[arkuo]

All that for one year of Lebron? No way.

[arkuo]

Don't know exactly but his personal PR in an recent interview said they're happy with the Lakers organization and they have a great working relationship with everyone. (Probably a subtle jab at Nico).

But all signs point in the "we're going to extend" direction. 2nd Aug is the date everyone will monitor. I don't expect any surprises.. same with Jokic.

I would expect his PR team to say that especially when Luka is asked a direct question. What he’s thinking may be different though. Is he jaded by the trade? You can’t really blame him if he is. He has zero ties to the new ownership (or the prior one for that matter) and hasn’t been in LA long enough to warm up to the fanbase. If he’s going to force his way out of LA this would be the perfect time. Go someplace you actually want to be and salvage your legacy. And honestly if he’s went East he would be guaranteed a Finals run sooner rather than later. He would dominate the East. Orlando just seems like a perfect spot for him. Orlando also has the assets to obtain Luka. Orlando might have to do some slight rebuilding but rebuilding around Luka/Paolo would make life pretty easy for their GM.

These are his dad's words for our media, so don't lynch me He said they're extremely happy with the Lakers and they have never seen an organization being run so professional as them. They also see Cali as their new home.

And recent interview from his PR staff.

Luka's manager Lara Beth Seager gave some followup quotes on the ESPN article to Shelburne:

The Lakers leadership team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive of Luka since we arrived in L.A. We've spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other over the last few months, and we've formed a strong working relationship.

“Championships are won when you work together. We all share that same goal.

“Luka loves playing with LeBron and has learned so much from him. He has nothing but the utmost respect for LeBron and considers it an honor to be his teammate.”

But yeah, you could be right and maybe he'll decline to sign anything and just wait it out

Believing what agents say is the same as believing what politicians say. Obviously not 100% but again, that's the Lakers' problem for Pelinka to solve.

"Luka loves playing with Lebron" has the same weight as Trump loving Obama. I just normally take these things with a grain of salt.

[Archx]

Believing what agents say is the same as believing what politicians say. Obviously not 100% but again, that's the Lakers' problem for Pelinka to solve.

"Luka loves playing with Lebron" has the same weight as Trump loving Obama. I just normally take these things with a grain of salt.

True about the agents, but in this case that's his PR manager. She can't just talk out of her ass, she asks for his input and then forwards it to the media so that he doesn't have to constantly deal with them. It's basically something similar his dad told us, it's just that he's fed up answering questions about his son while PR managers obviously still have a job to do. And we all know Lebron is his favorite player by far.

[arkuo]

Believing what agents say is the same as believing what politicians say. Obviously not 100% but again, that's the Lakers' problem for Pelinka to solve.

"Luka loves playing with Lebron" has the same weight as Trump loving Obama. I just normally take these things with a grain of salt.

True about the agents, but in this case that's his PR manager. She can't just talk out of her ass, she asks for his input and then forwards it to the media so that he doesn't have to constantly deal with them. It's basically something similar his dad told us, it's just that he's fed up answering questions about his son while PR managers obviously still have a job to do. And we all know Lebron is his favorite player by far.

The PR manager's job is to make the client look good and manage public perception. In that aspect, she's juat doing her job. But yes, Lebron is Luka's favorite player. Unpopular opinion, but I think it's the other way around. It's Lebron who wants to be held at a higher seat than Luka because of his ego.

[Darren]

Bradley Beal to Clipipers.

[Darren]

If GSW is forerunner to Lebron with Butler and.a pick, the Mavs could beat this offer easily. Something like Gafford, PJ, Klay, Martin, Hardy and a 1st for Lebron, Bronny and Knecht could get it done. I don't think Cavs is willing to break the core for 1 year. I also don't think Clippers has any meaningful assets to offer with. So basically, it's Golden States or Dallas rather easily.

The only downside is LAL should change the 2027 plan. Anyway, under the new cap rules, it's difficult for Star players to team up with pure cap space.

Lebron is still an upgrade over PJ. Knecht will play the pure shooter role Klay once played. Bronny is an upgrade over Hardy. And the Mavs is able to secure two roster spots for Kai Jones and Exum. The Mavs also get rid of Martin's contract for a 1st. It seems fine to me.

C - DLive / Kai / Powell
PF - AD / Marshall / OMax
SF - Flagg / Christie / Knecht
SG - Lebron / Exum / Bronny
PG - Kyrie / DoLo / BWill

2-way: Nemhard, Kelly, Sharp.

Even with Klay and Martin, it's difficult to plug them in against playoff matchups. PJ is playing the same position to Flagg. LBJ can make plays and play position less basketball and is motivated to win it all this season. LBJ could definitely make players like DLive, Flagg, Christie and OMax to reach another level to offset the loss of Gafford. And it's more natural to pay DLive after the rookie contract. This trade is a plus for Dallas.