The Dallas Mavericks are sitting pretty with around $38M in salary cap space, and fans are getting restless with ideas on how to spend it. With the luxury tax looming, MavsBoard users are throwing around proposals that range from savvy to straight-up crazy. Here are the top 5 moves fans are discussing:
1. Trading for a 3&D Wing
“I would want to target a 3&D player with that trade. Kispert is not a plus defender. I would prefer to overpay a little bit (from a cap perspective) to get a high level 3&D player.” - mvossman
Fans are itching to trade for a wing who can shoot and defend. mvossman suggests overpaying for a top-tier 3&D player, and one potential target is Corey Kispert. However, some fans are skeptical about Kispert’s defensive abilities, and loki proposes a different route: trading for Kispert to get a better-fitting piece on a good contract.
2. Signing Peyton Watson via Sign-and-Trade
“My primary target in free agency would be Peyton Watson (S&T). It’s unlikely they can pull the deal off, but I think he could fill that 3&D role long term.” - loki
Restricted free agent Peyton Watson has caught the eyes of Mavs fans. loki thinks Watson could be the perfect fit, but acknowledges it’s unlikely to happen. The Mavs would need to get creative with a sign-and-trade deal, possibly involving draft capital or other players.
3. Dealing Daniel Gafford for Draft Picks or a Better Center
“I am very hesitant to trade Gaff and end up without a starter-caliber C.” - F Gump
Daniel Gafford’s contract is tradeable, and some fans are considering moving him for draft picks or a more reliable center. F Gump is hesitant to trade Gafford, citing concerns about the team’s center rotation. Others, like DanSchwartzgan, think Gafford’s contract is designed to be tradeable and that the Mavs need to prioritize finding a center rotation solution.
4. Targeting a Diamond in the Rough
“You can make the argument that instead of signing an established guy for the MLE that you look for that diamond in the rough who hasn’t hit yet.” - Chicagojk
Some fans are suggesting the Mavs take a chance on an under-the-radar free agent instead of signing an established player to the mid-level exception. Chicagojk thinks this could be a smart move, but acknowledges there’s more risk involved.
5. Exploring the Trade Market for a High-Impact Player
“Moody is a significantly better defender than Max, and with a 7’ 1” wingspan he can easily guard up.” - mvossman
The Mavs have the assets to make a big trade, and some fans are proposing deals that could bring in a high-impact player. mvossman compares Moody to Maxi Kleber, suggesting that Moody’s defensive abilities could be a game-changer.
As the 2026 offseason approaches, Mavs fans are eager to see what moves the team will make. Will they take a chance on a young player or sign a veteran to fill a need? One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a wild ride.
Community Contributors
Thanks to these MavsBoard members whose posts contributed to this article:
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- View thread — DanSchwartzgan’s post | Chicagojk’s post | mvossman’s post | HoosierDaddyKid’s post | HoosierDaddyKid’s post
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