LaVine and Kessler to Dallas

[babyjax13]

Proposing this simply because Dallas shouldn't have to send picks and LaVine would give them a legitimate third option even if trading for him hurts their depth and doesn't help their defense.

DAL trades: Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, Dante Exum, Daniel Gafford, 2025 DAL 1st ($60,391,664)
in: Zach LaVine, Walker Kessler, 2024 WAS 2nd (32) ($45,997,860)
Dallas would still have 4 minimum roster charges from this, but they add a legitimate third option and they reduce the cost of Gafford. In the end, this should open up about $9 million in additional money under the apron to retain Derrick Jones Jr.

Lively/Kessler
Washington/DJJ
Luka/DJJ/Prosper
LaVine/Hardy/Lawson
Irving/???

CHI trades: Zach LaVine ($43,031,940)
in: Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, Dante Exum (46,997,504)
Chicago moves on from LaVine and cuts a massive amount of long-term money. Kleber can probably be flipped for an expiring and some 2nds.

UTA trades: Walker Kessler ($2,965,920), 2024 WAS 2nd (32)
in: Daniel Gafford, 2025 DAL 1st ($13,394,160)
Utah does something a little bit weird, they get an older (though still 25) and more expensive (but still reasonably paid) center, but in return for sending a similar caliber player with a higher upside and lower salary they get a first in a stronger draft. I assume Gafford can also be flipped for value by a team who doesn't have the financial constraints Dallas does.

[Texas Chuck]

No interest in paying Gafford and a 1st for Kessler. I get the money savings aspect of that, but not willing to overpay to that degree.

[babyjax13]

No interest in paying Gafford and a 1st for Kessler. I get the money savings aspect of that, but not willing to overpay to that degree.

You are also getting back #32. I get that this draft is worse, but I sincerely doubt that the end of the first this year will be different than most other years, so if this is a late pick next year to get a high second and cut a ton of money I don't actually think there is a value problem here. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Texas Chuck]

No interest in paying Gafford and a 1st for Kessler. I get the money savings aspect of that, but not willing to overpay to that degree.

You are also getting back #32. I get that this draft is worse, but I sincerely doubt that the end of the first this year will be different than most other years, so if this is a late pick next year to get a high second and cut a ton of money I don't actually think there is a value problem here. Maybe I'm wrong.

That's my bad. I completely overlooked the 2nd. I think on value its probably pretty close to fair though the unprotected nature of the Dallas pick I think still has Dallas overpaying. But admittedly nobody else on this board values upside variance as much as me.

[Apz]

No interest in paying Gafford and a 1st for Kessler. I get the money savings aspect of that, but not willing to overpay to that degree.

You are also getting back #32. I get that this draft is worse, but I sincerely doubt that the end of the first this year will be different than most other years, so if this is a late pick next year to get a high second and cut a ton of money I don't actually think there is a value problem here. Maybe I'm wrong.

U are. Its not about what player u can get with the pick, its about what u can trade the pick for. If mavs make a trade for a player the 25 1st will have a lot more value then whoever they pick with the 32nd from this year.

No intrest in lavine, and more then happy with gafford backing up lively. A no defense player that plays the same position(sg) as mavs 2nd best player(irving) simply doesnt make mavs a better team. 3 huge deals doesnt work anymore, ask suns

[babyjax13]

No interest in paying Gafford and a 1st for Kessler. I get the money savings aspect of that, but not willing to overpay to that degree.

You are also getting back #32. I get that this draft is worse, but I sincerely doubt that the end of the first this year will be different than most other years, so if this is a late pick next year to get a high second and cut a ton of money I don't actually think there is a value problem here. Maybe I'm wrong.

That's my bad. I completely overlooked the 2nd. I think on value its probably pretty close to fair though the unprotected nature of the Dallas pick I think still has Dallas overpaying. But admittedly nobody else on this board values upside variance as much as me.

Top 10 protection even it out?

[GoBobs]

Lavine played 25 games last year and is owed 130 million over the next three years. I see him as one of the worst contracts in the league until he can come back and prove he is healthy enough to play a large percentage of an nba season at a high level. It feels more like he is a guy nursing a chronic injury that will never be completely right. Maybe I am wrong, but no reason for the Mavs to take the gamble presented here.

[Texas Chuck]

You are also getting back #32. I get that this draft is worse, but I sincerely doubt that the end of the first this year will be different than most other years, so if this is a late pick next year to get a high second and cut a ton of money I don't actually think there is a value problem here. Maybe I'm wrong.

That's my bad. I completely overlooked the 2nd. I think on value its probably pretty close to fair though the unprotected nature of the Dallas pick I think still has Dallas overpaying. But admittedly nobody else on this board values upside variance as much as me.

Top 10 protection even it out?

Too strong since Dallas can't roll it over, right? I'd just top 4 it. Protects Dallas against Luka injury and lotto luck, anything else and those are the breaks...

[Kizz Fastfists]

As a Thunder fan I love it for Utah and Dallas. It give Utah just enough improvement that pick might convey next year. It knocks Dallas down just enough I'm not as worried about the lack of size OKC had to deal with this year in the playoffs.

[mademan]

I have Lavine+Kessler as about even value (Lavine as negative and Kesslar evening it out). I have the rest of the Mavs package as >>>>>>32nd overall

[Mavrelous]

I'd haggle hard with DJJ and get him to sign a deal that start at 9, 40/4 is a good deal, I do it to keep Exum, because the depth is horrendous...

Lively/Kessler/vet min
Washington/Prosper/Morris
Luka/DJJ
LaVine/Exum/Lawson
Irving/Hardy

Depth to be competed by
#32
#58
Both 2nd round exception, lowest salary possible, and 2 vet min, one of them likely Markieff Morris.

Guard depth is great, center depth when healthy is great, 3rd scorer problem is solved, the glaring hole is in the backup 4 spot, this assumes Prosper will be 15-20MPG guy in RS, it's optimistic IMO.

[babyjax13]

I'd haggle hard with DJJ and get him to sign a deal that start at 9, 40/4 is a good deal, I do it to keep Exum, because the depth is horrendous...

Lively/Kessler/vet min
Washington/Prosper/Morris
Luka/DJJ
LaVine/Exum/Lawson
Irving/Hardy

Depth to be competed by
#32
#58
Both 2nd round exception, lowest salary possible, and 2 vet min, one of them likely Markieff Morris.

Guard depth is great, center depth when healthy is great, 3rd scorer problem is solved, the glaring hole is in the backup 4 spot, this assumes Prosper will be 15-20MPG guy in RS, it's optimistic IMO.

That also opens up trade options down the road with more matching salary. If Prosper isn't ready yet, he can be moved with Dante for a rotation player.

[Astaluego]

I like Lavine's idea, I think that in a winning situation he could shine, I even think that his 1v1 defense is not bad (if he is motivated and with less offensive load)

However no interest in trading Gaffor for Kessler and attached an asset, I would leave that out of the trade if possible. Gafford fits perfectly with his extreme athleticism

[Mavrelous]

I like Lavine's idea, I think that in a winning situation he could shine, I even think that his 1v1 defense is not bad (if he is motivated and with less offensive load)

However no interest in trading Gaffor for Kessler and attached an asset, I would leave that out of the trade if possible. Gafford fits perfectly with his extreme athleticism

The wrinkle here is to drop 10 million in payroll (Gafford to rookie scale Kessler) and redirect them to re-sign DJJ.

[jayjaysee]

I like the OP if Dallas and DJJ had the deal agreed upon. I’d want top 6 protection on the pick, not sure if that’s too high. I guess the chances of Dallas being in the bottom 5 and that mattering are very low, so would side with Chuck and just ask for top 4 in case Dallas misses play-in and somehow wins lottery.

What I keep going back to with the OP.. What if Utah wasn’t included and this is just a LaVine salary dump the OP has?

Then you trade Gafford+2025 Toronto second for a pick between 17th-22nd and draft Ware or Flip with no salary coming back. Kessler, 32nd, Toronto 2nd versus Ware, Dallas 2025 first

It’s probably close? But I take Ware and the extra two years of team control to be Lively’s backup.

[ChettheJet]

The Bulls are in the mood with the Giddey trade to gamble on youth. That likely includes resigning Patrick Williams to play the 3. I don't think they want to wait for THJ to expire, take 2 years of Kleber who is a DAL favorite who they never seem to have wanted to start, Green for all his potential when drafted never started and his big scoring year, 9.1 and he's signed for way too long, Powell who has always been not quite good enough and journeyman Exum who never stays put.

Kleber Phillips
Williams THJ
Vucevic Powell
White Green Terry
Giddey Dosunmu Carter Exum

The Bulls don't want to play catch the spare parts for teams with bigger fish to fry