Dallas Mavericks 2025 Trade thread -- Roster and Cap and the 1st page

[Super Cooper]

Yeah, I'm happy with them staying, I just think they expendable during a rebuild.

At their price and production, value to a championship level roster, I think you keep them unless it's a no-brainer. We may be nuancing each other here.

How would you rate the roster in the way of "keeping" 1-17? Do you put DLive above Gaff?

Yes, I just don't think anyone is giving anything worth it for DLive, he's also a better player, I keep him and hope for the best.
I posted my ranking, to me Martin, Hardy and Klay need to go, and they are negative value, Flagg, PJ and Max Christie are keepers, I would keep AD over trading him for crap, rest of the roster depends on what is offered.

Ya, I think we're saying almost the same thing. I put Gaff and Naji above Max, but Max is right after. Every championship team has had a "Naji" type player; he reminds me of Adrian Griffin (impact to the team wise). As for Gaff, pairing him with a more skilled frontcourt makes him a keeper (depending on matchups). Again, I'm not starting him against OKC, but if HOU rolls out Adams/Capela you do.

[Super Cooper]

Yeah, I'm happy with them staying, I just think they expendable during a rebuild.

At their price and production, value to a championship level roster, I think you keep them unless it's a no-brainer. We may be nuancing each other here.

How would you rate the roster in the way of "keeping" 1-17? Do you put DLive above Gaff?

Yes, I just don't think anyone is giving anything worth it for DLive, he's also a better player, I keep him and hope for the best.
I posted my ranking, to me Martin, Hardy and Klay need to go, and they are negative value, Flagg, PJ and Max Christie are keepers, I would keep AD over trading him for crap, rest of the roster depends on what is offered.

IMO, AD is a vastly depreciating asset. Holding him means you are risking his getting gravely injured and you're stuck with his salary without anything in return. Teams know what they'll be getting. Keeping him accomplishes what?

Now if offers are all completely an empty bag or just getting 4 ADs with a combined salary, ya you don't do it.

If he was a weight room warrior, then ya, keeping him makes sense. But AD is a doctor's wait room or a buffet weight room warrior.

[Archx]

From ESPN.

Davis is in the first year of a three-year, $175 million extension ($54.1, $58.5 and $62.8 million) he signed in August 2023. He will turn 33 in March and is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension starting Aug. 6, the last year of which would pay him $76 million at age 37.

"The extension and paying a player in their mid-30s an average of $69 million and the last nine months in Dallas is what scares me," the West executive said. "In this current CBA, you cannot afford to have a player earning 35% of the salary cap on the sidelines more than on the court."

For the fourth time in five seasons, Dallas is a luxury tax team and will pay a significant penalty as a result. Because the Mavericks are now considered a repeater tax team, they are projected to pay the largest tax penalty in franchise history at $142 million. If the Mavericks finish in the lottery for a second consecutive season, can the front office sell ownership on spending $370 million (salary and tax) to keep this roster together?

More importantly, Dallas is not only over the first apron again but will likely exceed the second apron. The Mavericks are $4.6 million under the second apron when not including their 2026 first-round pick.

Being over the second apron comes with current and future restrictions. Unlike this past summer, when Dallas used the $5.7 million tax midlevel exception to sign guard Russell, that resource is replaced with only the veteran minimum exception. Dallas cannot send out cash in a trade, use more than 100% of the Traded Player Exception or aggregate contracts sent out if it leaves the team over the second apron. Already limited with draft capital, the Mavericks' 2034 first-round pick becomes frozen if they finish the 2026-27 season over that threshold.


TLDR; Nico screwed up beyond belief and trading AD could be pain in the ass, specially if you want a decent return.

[Super Cooper]

From ESPN.

Davis is in the first year of a three-year, $175 million extension ($54.1, $58.5 and $62.8 million) he signed in August 2023. He will turn 33 in March and is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension starting Aug. 6, the last year of which would pay him $76 million at age 37.

"The extension and paying a player in their mid-30s an average of $69 million and the last nine months in Dallas is what scares me," the West executive said. "In this current CBA, you cannot afford to have a player earning 35% of the salary cap on the sidelines more than on the court."

For the fourth time in five seasons, Dallas is a luxury tax team and will pay a significant penalty as a result. Because the Mavericks are now considered a repeater tax team, they are projected to pay the largest tax penalty in franchise history at $142 million. If the Mavericks finish in the lottery for a second consecutive season, can the front office sell ownership on spending $370 million (salary and tax) to keep this roster together?

More importantly, Dallas is not only over the first apron again but will likely exceed the second apron. The Mavericks are $4.6 million under the second apron when not including their 2026 first-round pick.

Being over the second apron comes with current and future restrictions. Unlike this past summer, when Dallas used the $5.7 million tax midlevel exception to sign guard Russell, that resource is replaced with only the veteran minimum exception. Dallas cannot send out cash in a trade, use more than 100% of the Traded Player Exception or aggregate contracts sent out if it leaves the team over the second apron. Already limited with draft capital, the Mavericks' 2034 first-round pick becomes frozen if they finish the 2026-27 season over that threshold.


TLDR; Nico screwed up beyond belief and trading AD could be pain in the ass, specially if you want a decent return.

On the hot asphalt no lube painful, but it's sunk cost. IMO you have to unload AD unless the offers are just horrible. A team that feels they're an AD away from competing far into the playoffs can have him for 2 years, then have that huge expiring contract as a trade piece in the third year.

[Archx]

From ESPN.

Davis is in the first year of a three-year, $175 million extension ($54.1, $58.5 and $62.8 million) he signed in August 2023. He will turn 33 in March and is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension starting Aug. 6, the last year of which would pay him $76 million at age 37.

"The extension and paying a player in their mid-30s an average of $69 million and the last nine months in Dallas is what scares me," the West executive said. "In this current CBA, you cannot afford to have a player earning 35% of the salary cap on the sidelines more than on the court."

For the fourth time in five seasons, Dallas is a luxury tax team and will pay a significant penalty as a result. Because the Mavericks are now considered a repeater tax team, they are projected to pay the largest tax penalty in franchise history at $142 million. If the Mavericks finish in the lottery for a second consecutive season, can the front office sell ownership on spending $370 million (salary and tax) to keep this roster together?

More importantly, Dallas is not only over the first apron again but will likely exceed the second apron. The Mavericks are $4.6 million under the second apron when not including their 2026 first-round pick.

Being over the second apron comes with current and future restrictions. Unlike this past summer, when Dallas used the $5.7 million tax midlevel exception to sign guard Russell, that resource is replaced with only the veteran minimum exception. Dallas cannot send out cash in a trade, use more than 100% of the Traded Player Exception or aggregate contracts sent out if it leaves the team over the second apron. Already limited with draft capital, the Mavericks' 2034 first-round pick becomes frozen if they finish the 2026-27 season over that threshold.


TLDR; Nico screwed up beyond belief and trading AD could be pain in the ass, specially if you want a decent return.

On the hot asphalt no lube painful, but it's sunk cost. IMO you have to unload AD unless the offers are just horrible. A team that feels they're an AD away from competing far into the playoffs can have him for 2 years, then have that huge expiring contract as a trade piece in the third year.

True. But if have you read the entire thing, unloading AD is probably the least of their problems. They'll have to probably restructure entire roster due to the tax implications. Which means even resigning players with bird rights will be risky. And even if you do get rid of some players, you have to make sure you don't take back more salary, which is also easier said than done.

But yeah, like i wrote in my earlier post, first trade AD and maybe even Klay, then go from there... They can't just throw assets around if they still want to compete because they basically have none at this point.

[Teffer10]

Unfortunately, I think the new GM will need to clean house similar as Nellie did with the 3 Js. This thing is nearly as toxic as it was back then.

AD will be a constant reminder of Nico and his total destruction of the team. So he should be moved first. I dont think holding out will increase his value because he will only get older. The nagging injuries will turn into season or career ending injuries and then what will his value be?

Get rid of him and Klay while you can before their value becomes negative ( if they arent already).

[Super Cooper]

Things would be very different if DLive drank more milk. The Gaff/DLive rotation at C is incredible and dictates who other teams put on the floor, not vice versa. If DLive could stay healthy and you could get a starting two-way PG out of an AD trade, this is a contending roster when Kyrie returns. We had FOUR assists at halftime tonight. The ball moves on this offense like it’s a bowling, not basket ball.

[41Dirk41]

Nobody want street clothes here and he doesn't want to stay here.

I think it will be more simply than we expect.

[Super Cooper]

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2025/11/11/nico-harrison-had-document-that-showed-jrue-holiday-on-same-tier-as-nikola-jokic/87224476007/

Y'all I promise I'm not Nico's burner account... I just didn't know how correct I was that he'd trade for Jrue! Wow. That guy needs to be institutionalized.

[Bob8]

Things would be very different if DLive drank more milk. The Gaff/DLive rotation at C is incredible and dictates who other teams put on the floor, not vice versa. If DLive could stay healthy and you could get a starting two-way PG out of an AD trade, this is a contending roster when Kyrie returns. We had FOUR assists at halftime tonight. The ball moves on this offense like it’s a bowling, not basket ball.

They're averaging 15/10 combined. Nobody cares about defending those 2 or making rotation changes because of them.

[Mavrelous]

Lively averaged 8/7 in the PO, Diagnault went to hack a Lively just to get him off the floor, and he led the team in +/-.

[Bob8]

Lively averaged 8/7 in the PO, Diagnault went to hack a Lively just to get him off the floor, and he led the team in +/-.

He hacked Lively because he thought he will miss FTs and didn't trust his players to stop Mavs half court offense. Strangely enough he did that only ones, he didn't want him of the court in other occasions?

[Mavrelous]

Lively averaged 8/7 in the PO, Diagnault went to hack a Lively just to get him off the floor, and he led the team in +/-.

He hacked Lively because he thought he will miss FTs.

And by thay, force Kidd to put in a good FT shooter.

[Bob8]

Lively averaged 8/7 in the PO, Diagnault went to hack a Lively just to get him off the floor, and he led the team in +/-.

He hacked Lively because he thought he will miss FTs.

And by thay, force Kidd to put in a good FT shooter.

And why did he that only once in the series?

Lively was great, but nobody changes rotations because of the role players. Sure you have to make some adjustments now or then, but you won't play different rotation the whole game because Lively and Gafford are that dominant.

Lively was perfect role player for Luka, he could cover him in D, was solid rim runner and could pass out of Luka's traps and double teams. Without Luka and with classic guards, his value is much lower.

[Mavrelous]

He hacked Lively because he thought he will miss FTs.

And by thay, force Kidd to put in a good FT shooter.

And why did he that only once in the series?

Lively was great, but nobody changes rotations because of the role players. Sure you have to make some adjustments now or then, but you won't play different rotation because Lively and Gafford are that dominant.

Lively was perfect role player for Luka, he could cover him in D, was solid rim runner and could pass out of Luka's traps and double teams. Without Luka and with classic guards, his value is much lower.

Yes, he is a rim running big, he works best next to P&R master, Mavs have tried a lot of bigs next to Luka, KP, Powell, Kleber as small ball C, Wood and Gafford, none of them work anywhere near Lively, but he worked well with Kyrie alone too, remember the Mavs were good w/o Luka before Lively went down, they went 5-1, with the one loss being in OT on the road.
OKC stopped doing it because it didn't work Lively made enough FTs, and Luka and Kyrie got a much needed rest because they didn't need to work hard on offense.
Both the Clippers and the Thunder schemed specifically to take away the lob, no one schemed this way for Powell, Gafford was a liability defensively and the Mavs gave back more on defense than they gained on offense, so they did actually scheme for him, and PJ and DJJ were wide open all series against OKC.

[Bob8]

And by thay, force Kidd to put in a good FT shooter.

And why did he that only once in the series?

Lively was great, but nobody changes rotations because of the role players. Sure you have to make some adjustments now or then, but you won't play different rotation because Lively and Gafford are that dominant.

Lively was perfect role player for Luka, he could cover him in D, was solid rim runner and could pass out of Luka's traps and double teams. Without Luka and with classic guards, his value is much lower.

Yes, he is a rim running big, he works best next to P&R master, Mavs have tried a lot of bigs next to Luka, KP, Powell, Kleber as small ball C, Wood and Gafford, none of them work anywhere near Lively, but he worked well with Kyrie alone too, remember the Mavs were good w/o Luka before Lively went down, they went 5-1, with the one loss being in OT on the road.
OKC stopped doing it because it didn't work Lively made enough FTs, and Luka and Kyrie got a much needed rest because they didn't need to work hard on offense.
Both the Clippers and the Thunder schemed specifically to take away the lob, no one schemed this way for Powell, Gafford was a liability defensively and the Mavs gave back more on defense than they gained on offense, so they did actually scheme for him, and PJ and DJJ were wide open all series against OKC.

They schemed their game because of Luka not because of Lively. Yes Lively was Luka's target, like would be numerous other rim running bigs. And yes he was extremely useful, because he could defend also. But OKC didn't just closed their paint and leave corner 3 open because of Lively, but because their only plan was stopping Luka and Kyrie. They just spammed players around them. They somewhat succeeded in doing that but unfortunately for them role players have good shooting series.

Name me a single defensive C instrumental for winning the ring in last 10 years?

[Mavrelous]

And why did he that only once in the series?

Lively was great, but nobody changes rotations because of the role players. Sure you have to make some adjustments now or then, but you won't play different rotation because Lively and Gafford are that dominant.

Lively was perfect role player for Luka, he could cover him in D, was solid rim runner and could pass out of Luka's traps and double teams. Without Luka and with classic guards, his value is much lower.

Yes, he is a rim running big, he works best next to P&R master, Mavs have tried a lot of bigs next to Luka, KP, Powell, Kleber as small ball C, Wood and Gafford, none of them work anywhere near Lively, but he worked well with Kyrie alone too, remember the Mavs were good w/o Luka before Lively went down, they went 5-1, with the one loss being in OT on the road.
OKC stopped doing it because it didn't work Lively made enough FTs, and Luka and Kyrie got a much needed rest because they didn't need to work hard on offense.
Both the Clippers and the Thunder schemed specifically to take away the lob, no one schemed this way for Powell, Gafford was a liability defensively and the Mavs gave back more on defense than they gained on offense, so they did actually scheme for him, and PJ and DJJ were wide open all series against OKC.

They schemed their game because of Luka not because of Lively. Yes Lively was Luka's target, like would be numerous other rim running bigs. And yes he was extremely useful, because he could defend also. But OKC didn't just closed their paint and leave corner 3 open because of Lively, but because their only plan was stopping Luka and Kyrie. They somewhat succeeded but unfortunately for them role players have good shooting series.

Like I said, this wouldn't have been done for Powell, and Gafford gave it up on defense.
All this is to say, players have impact beyond the counting stats, Lively is prime example of that, Mr Triple Single Draymond Green was a the 2nd best player on 5 consecutive finals and 4 rings dynasty, he wouldn't have worked w/o Steph, but Steph wouldn't have had the dynasty w/o him.

[Bob8]

Yes, he is a rim running big, he works best next to P&R master, Mavs have tried a lot of bigs next to Luka, KP, Powell, Kleber as small ball C, Wood and Gafford, none of them work anywhere near Lively, but he worked well with Kyrie alone too, remember the Mavs were good w/o Luka before Lively went down, they went 5-1, with the one loss being in OT on the road.
OKC stopped doing it because it didn't work Lively made enough FTs, and Luka and Kyrie got a much needed rest because they didn't need to work hard on offense.
Both the Clippers and the Thunder schemed specifically to take away the lob, no one schemed this way for Powell, Gafford was a liability defensively and the Mavs gave back more on defense than they gained on offense, so they did actually scheme for him, and PJ and DJJ were wide open all series against OKC.

They schemed their game because of Luka not because of Lively. Yes Lively was Luka's target, like would be numerous other rim running bigs. And yes he was extremely useful, because he could defend also. But OKC didn't just closed their paint and leave corner 3 open because of Lively, but because their only plan was stopping Luka and Kyrie. They somewhat succeeded but unfortunately for them role players have good shooting series.

Like I said, this wouldn't have been done for Powell, and Gafford gave it up on defense.
All this is to say, players have impact beyond the counting stats, Lively is prime example of that, Mr Triple Single Draymond Green was a the 2nd best player on 5 consecutive finals and 4 rings dynasty, he wouldn't have worked w/o Steph, but Steph wouldn't have had the dynasty w/o him.

Yes he has, I'm just saying that nobody is changing rotations because of role players, which poster implied. And he's talking about new era without Luka. Sorry but nobody is giving **** about Lively or Gafford.

Draymond Green role was a lot different than Lively's, he was basically the engine of Warriors, on and off court.

[Super Cooper]

Things would be very different if DLive drank more milk. The Gaff/DLive rotation at C is incredible and dictates who other teams put on the floor, not vice versa. If DLive could stay healthy and you could get a starting two-way PG out of an AD trade, this is a contending roster when Kyrie returns. We had FOUR assists at halftime tonight. The ball moves on this offense like it’s a bowling, not basket ball.

They're averaging 15/10 combined. Nobody cares about defending those 2 or making rotation changes because of them.

Lighten up, dude. Gaff is putting the work in. As I said things would be different IF DLIVE WAS AVAILABLE.

[Bob8]

Things would be very different if DLive drank more milk. The Gaff/DLive rotation at C is incredible and dictates who other teams put on the floor, not vice versa. If DLive could stay healthy and you could get a starting two-way PG out of an AD trade, this is a contending roster when Kyrie returns. We had FOUR assists at halftime tonight. The ball moves on this offense like it’s a bowling, not basket ball.

They're averaging 15/10 combined. Nobody cares about defending those 2 or making rotation changes because of them.

Lighten up, dude. Gaff is putting the work in. As I said things would be different IF DLIVE WAS AVAILABLE.

Not it wouldn't. Mavs are 4th D and 29th offense. It's very difficult to believe that Lively's offensive brilliance would change their offense.