Mavericks have a clear answer to their roster crunch (it's not trading Klay Thompson)

The Dallas Mavericks have a clear roster crunch ahead of next season. They have 16 players on standard contracts, and with the NBA's limit at 15, they must make a move before the start of the regular season to get under the limit. Dallas can't enter the 2026-27 season with the roster as is, meaning that a move is on the way in the next two months. The roster on opening night will not look the same as it does now.

Dallas should trade Daniel Gafford to fix their roster crunch

The move that would make the most sense for the Mavericks is a trade, as it would allow them to get value back rather than buying a player out and allowing them to hit free agency. Players who have been in trade rumors this summer include Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, and P.J. Washington, and Dallas should explore trades for Gafford before anyone else to address their roster crunch.

Don't get it twisted. Gafford has had an excellent Mavericks career over the last 2.5 seasons and was a key reason that they turned the 2023-24 season around and ultimately reached the NBA Finals for the third time in franchise history. His energy, rim protection, and finishing inside quickly made him a fan favorite, but a trade makes sense for both sides.

Dallas just drafted Morez Johnson Jr., traded for Santi Aldama, and re-signed Moussa Cisse. Their frontcourt rotation is already strong, even without Gafford, and they would be able to get much more value back for Gafford than someone like Thompson.

Why waiting to trade Klay Thompson is logical for the Mavericks

While Thompson seems more likely to get moved, many of the teams that want him are only interested if the Mavericks buy him out. This is why Dallas should remain patient, not trade him, and keep him on the roster heading into the regular season.

Suitors' interest in him would then be tested even more, as the Mavs would have no incentive to trade him. Their roster would be at 15 players on standard deals, and Thompson's trade value would rise because of this. Dallas could keep him for as long as they want, and a team that's desperate for shooting would likely make a move for him at the trade deadline.

Thompson's expiring contract is already attractive enough, and his presence alone could give a team the boost they need to go from a playoff team to contenders.

Why Gafford is easier to trade than Thompson right now

On the other hand, Gafford is entering the first year of a three-year, $54 million contract. A buyout is not in the cards for the young big man, and a team would be far more likely to absorb his contract into an exception rather than Thompson. This is a crucial layer to the Mavericks finding a trade partner for one of their players, as Dallas can't afford to take back another player. This would leave them with the same problem they started with — 16 players on standard contracts.

A consolidation Gafford trade would allow the Mavs to get under the NBA's limit while also creating a better opportunity to find a Thompson suitor later on in the season. They would kill two birds with one stone with such an approach, and moving on from the former Arkansas Razorback makes the most sense as Dallas enters a crucial season.

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