Mavs turned down a Josh Green for Capela trade straight up. They view Hardy as the better asset. Zero chance they'd offer anything more than one of the '27 1st, or Josh Green for Capela. I'd personally love Capela as a stop gap. Is he perfect? No. But he absolutely fills the biggest weaknesses of this team, rebounding and rim protection. With the additional 2nds, there might be a pathway for a THJ & 2nd rounders x2 deal for Capela, mainly because Atlanta has been vocal about wanting additional shooting, and Okungwu is their center of the future. Then again, I'm not sure if that's quite enough for Atlanta.
I'd also wager that the Cavs would take a '27 1st RD pick, Josh Green, and THJ trade for Allen in a heartbeat. I don't think Dallas is interested in giving up quite that much for a center they hope gets displaced in two years. It's become pretty evident Allen & Mobley on the court together are pretty redundant. I think a '27 1st rd pick, Maxi Kleber & THJ trade would entice the Cavs, to some degree.
I also think any Zubac addition is probably dependent on a Harden acquisition by the Clippers. Or if Batum & Zubac would be enticing enough for the Mavs to give up one of their legitimate assets: '27 1st, or Josh Green.
it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see the Mavs making moves for starting calibre players. PJ Washington, Capela, and Allen seem like they’re off the board. Zubac feels like a long shot. Portland matching Thybulle was a bit of a heartbreaker.
What do you think of either of these? Both of them trade guard depth for front court pieces, and preserve the 2027 FRP (which must remain unprotected because of future trades) and the Mavs retain both Green and Hardy.
Raptors Receive: Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)
Mavericks Receive: Chris Boucher (PF-C), Otto Porter Jr (SF)
Boucher is an energetic defender with a very high offensive motor. He’s a decent 3 point shooter who can space the floor, and he’d feast with lobs from Luka. He’s tenacious on the glass but does tend to get boxed out a lot if he has to play centre. You could start him at the 4 and move Williams to 3. Otto Porter Jr. is plagued by injury but is expiring, so he’s low risk veteran bench depth.
-or-
Pelicans Receive: Tim Hardaway Jr (SG), 2025 2RP Mavericks Receive: Jonas Valancuinas (C), Naji Marshall (SF)
Jonas is closer to the ‘starting centre’ strategy that Mavs fans are wanting. He’d start at centre and take the real tough minutes so Lively can develop against opposing benches. Obviously Jonas is not one of the best in the league, but he might be a realistic get since the Pels need volume shooting so badly and are overflowing with switchable young wings. Marshall could back Josh up, and the two of them could duke it out for the starting SF role.
What’s looking increasingly likely though, is Hardaway rides the bench until the trade deadline when borderline contenders look to add shooting. At that point Nico could package Tim/Green/Holmes/Javale +2027 & 2030 FRPs, a couple swaps, and 2x 2RPs for a big move to a team that decides they don’t need their cornerstones any more (Kawhi or PG13? Derozan? Gobert or KAT? Siakam?)