Maxi Kleber and Kemba Walker cannot be traded by the Dallas Mavericks this season

The Dallas Mavericks extended Maxi Kleber back in September on a three-year deal worth $33 million. He played a key role in the team’s run to the conference finals last season, and his unique skill set made working out a new contract a no-brainer for the team. The extension makes Kleber one of 11 players that cannot be traded this season.

There are trade restrictions built into the NBA’s CBA. For three reasons players are not allowed to be traded until after this season’s deadline. Kleber qualifies because he signed an extension after Aug. 9.

The Mavs have two of the 11 players that are currently not eligible to be traded this season. LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, and Karl-Anthony Towns headline the list with the last three signing supermax deals since July. Here is a look at why Kemba Walker joined that list during this season, and why Christian Wood will likely have to wait until after the Feb. 9 trade deadline if he wants to sign an extension with the Mavs.

Maxi Kleber and Kemba Walker cannot be traded by the Dallas Mavericks this season

The Mavs signed Kemba Walker on Nov. 29 after the All-Star point guard went unsigned this offseason. Players that agree to contracts after Nov. 9 are not eligible to be traded until after the Feb. 9 trade deadline, so Walker will be with the Mavericks for the rest of the season unless he is released at some point.

The Mavs cannot trade two of their 15 players this season with Luka Doncic joining that list as an untouchable. That makes it more difficult for Dallas to swing a deal before the deadline. If Christian Wood signs an extension before Feb. 9, he would also join this list, which is why the Mavericks will likely wait to seriously negotiate a new contract until after the trade deadline.

The Dallas Mavericks did that last season with both Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson. Doe-Doe agreed to a new contract, but Brunson ultimately left for the Knicks in free agency. They want the flexibility to make trades, but that is a massive gamble. The Mavs cannot afford to lose another key scorer for nothing, but it could happen if a Christian Wood extension does not get done.

Will the Mavericks make a trade before the deadline? Stay tuned to find out.