A lot of executives around the NBA think the Mavericks may trade either Jalen Brunson or Dorian Finney-Smith prior to the February 10 deadline, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Scotto first stated two weeks ago that rival execs believed there may be an opportunity to acquire Brunson or Finney-Smith.
As Scotto reported earlier and restated during the most recent HoopsHype Podcast, the Mavs project to go well into the luxury tax if they re-sign both Brunson and Finney-Smith to lucrative contracts this offseason when the duo reaches unrestricted free agency, which is one reason why the team would be incentivized to make a move. Those two players are also among Dallas’ best trade assets if the team wants to try to acquire an impact player.
The Pistons are one club worth keeping an eye on for Brunson, according to Scotto, who says the fourth-year point guard has “some admirers in Detroit.” The Mavericks are known to be interested in Jerami Grant, so Brunson or Finney-Smith could head to Detroit if the Pistons decide to send Grant to Dallas.
Scotto also points out that the Pistons are one of the few teams projected to have cap room this summer, so if their interest in Brunson is real and they don’t acquire him at the deadline, they could make an offseason run at him.
Meanwhile, the Hawks, Trail Blazers, Pacers, Wizards, and Pelicans are among the teams that have been keeping an eye on Finney-Smith, says Scotto. Those clubs aren’t exactly title contenders, so they’d likely view Finney-Smith as a potential long-term core piece rather than a short-term solution to push them over the top.
Of course, the three-and-D wing would fit well on virtually any roster, so he’ll likely have many more suitors than just those five teams.
Dallas has had some bad breaks on the ledger as far as timing goes. What makes it tougher is they have always been in the hunt and unable to really have a {semi} reset moment.
It must be frustrating for Cuban trying to hash this all out on the fly, while still trying to compete, and even somehow trying to get better all in one swoop
Maybe this offseason they can just rip the bandaid off and pay out some draft assets to unload KP’s last 2 years. You hate to do that but you’d almost hate doing this little dance for another 2 yrs more
I didn’t like the THJr ink but then again what could Cuban really do gun to head? Feels like they don’t want to do that again with DFF or Brunson and I can see why. Tough decisions in Big D but nothing that the Mavs aren’t used to lately
*DFS
I’m sure Cuban is handling the perhaps roster crunch fine, didn’t become a billionaire by folding when things got tough…I do think Dallas would be far better off keeping DFS, I know he isn’t the biggest name but player like him are what make teams good or bad, and while I think Brunson could be an all star if he got Fred Van Vleet usage, I understand why they would move on from him much more than DFS
No doubt
Its just been such a hard ledger to navigate for the last 5 yrs for various reasons.
Id love to see what he could do with a little wiggle room+Luka
How come Fred Van Vleet was FVV?
Dwight Powell and DFS for Jusif Nurkic ?
Brunson Doncic THJ KP and Nurkic plus Bullock and Kleber still off the bench.
Hope that Dragic gets brought out and you can steal him with the open roster spot.
Good trade as long as Blazers can save money…
THJ is likely out 10 weeks
Yeah seem that, he often plays from the bench anyways.
Knicks need to be all over Brunson and DFS. They desperately need a PG, and DFS is also exactly the type of player Thibs loves.
Trade Reddish and Toppin, since they aren’t using them anyways, and just see what Dallas says. Certainly couldn’t hurt matters adding two studs, and especially one at a position of real need for NY…
Idk, just a thought
So you want to trade two players that aren’t used for 2 starting “studs?” I see nothing wrong here.
Yeah, they’re both extremely talented, young players. Just because the Knicks aren’t using them correctly doesn’t mean they don’t have value to other teams.
Especially, when they’re also able to be held for multiple years, while Brunson and DFS are possibly 1 year rentals.
Also, I meant it as a starting off point, Knicks can add draft pick compensation to help sweeten the deal.
Personally, I hope the Bulls trade DJJ and a couple seconds or if they have to their Portland 1st Rounder for DFS
Brunson and DFS are the type of NBA players who are assets for a team until they’re paid market. So, there is some big picture case to trading them now. While I think J.Kidd can figure out any basketball puzzle, even one that would allow KP6’s skills to be better utilized, it might not be worth it due to the implementation cost and his injury history; so, yeah, they’d be better off with him off the payroll. THJ’s extension was just a mistake, an obvious one really; so, it would be good to send him away too.
But IMO, DAL can’t focus on those things if they want to give Luka the best chance to lead a real contender within the years of his extension. The focus has to be on getting the right additions to the top of their roster (not roster shuffling that might in theory help them with such additions down the road, at the cost of current assets). It’s really too late for a two steps back, three steps forward, approach.
Now you won’t be able to trade KP and Tim Hardaway to upgrade.
It is a good idea to trade Brunson and DFS to upgrade.
What upgrade? What team do you think is going to be willing to acquire them (and their expiring deals) to downgrade?
6 contender teams can’t afford to pay Brunson and DFS next season
Suns – Ayton salary is fully taxable
Lakers – trying to cut tax
Jazz – no more luxury tax needed
Bucks – small town small tax
76ers – unlikely to pay more tax
Celtics – have no tax budget