Mavericks’ Bennedict Mathurin rumors have an obvious obstacle

Almost a month after free agency began, several marquee restricted free agents are still on the market, including LA Clippers swingman Bennedict Mathurin. With Mathurin's free agency dragging deeper into the summer, new suitors are beginning to emerge, with the Dallas Mavericks reportedly being one of them. Nonetheless, there's a very real obstacle Dallas faces in acquiring Mathurin — the Mavericks are already carrying 16 players, one over the NBA's 15-man roster limit.

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Mavericks are among several teams that have expressed interest in a sign-and-trade for Mathurin. While Scotto noted that the Clippers remain interested in re-signing the restricted free agent, he also added that the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks have explored trading for Mathurin.

Mavericks' roster crunch is the biggest obstacle to sign Mathurin

Of course, for Dallas, an overloaded roster isn't impossible to overcome. The Mavericks could very well carry more than 16 players on standard contracts throughout the offseason. However, once the regular season begins in late October, NBA teams will need to trim their rosters down to 15 players.

There are certainly times when teams carry more than 15 players on their rosters deep into October. However, in these instances, teams are typically carrying those "excess" players on non-guaranteed contracts, making their release much simpler than that of players on guaranteed deals.

The Mavericks don't necessarily have that luxury. Dallas does have Moussa Cisse, whose contract is partially guaranteed, but after quickly matching the New York Knicks' offer sheet for Cisse, it doesn't seem like the big man is going anywhere anytime soon.

With Dallas already facing a roster crunch, that could be why NBA insider Marc Stein poured cold water on the Mavericks' chances of landing Mathurin, reporting that "The Pelicans and Bulls remain engaged suitors for Clippers RFA Bennedict Mathurin, says one source close to the process. The source adds: 'Dallas has not expressed interest at a serious level' thus far."

Stein didn't elaborate further, but it would make sense to assume Dallas is focused on consolidating its roster rather than adding another piece. The Mavericks already have work to do before the regular season begins, and with trade speculation surrounding both Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford, one of these veterans could potentially be moved for draft capital rather than another player.

Bennedict Mathurin's fit explains why Dallas might have interest

Yet, there's another level here: Dallas can't simply trade Thompson or Gafford to a team in exchange solely for draft capital. There isn't a team that can feasibly absorb such a large chunk of salary, meaning a three-team trade would be required. Of course, Dallas could aggregate two players for one, but that hypothetical leads down a much larger rabbit hole altogether.

Back to Mathurin — he'd be an enticing player to acquire, one who could give Dallas the long-term shooting guard solution it's been searching for. He's a dynamic scorer who can put pressure on the rim, create from the mid-range, and let it fly from deep. Moreover, he's exceptionally athletic and among the league's better foul-drawers.

But, all in all, it'd take a lot to acquire Mathurin. The parameters of a potential sign-and-trade haven't even been discussed because Dallas' roster isn't built to absorb another addition without first making a move. It'd take multiple corresponding transactions to create the necessary flexibility, and as the summer progresses, those opportunities become increasingly difficult to find.

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