Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) celebrate during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mavericks unlikely to be players in the buyout market

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated Feb 9, 2025 7:30 AM ET

The NBA trade deadline came and went, and the Dallas Mavericks had a busy week sending out Luka Doncic, Markieff Morris, Maxi Kleber, and Quentin Grimes while bringing in Anthony Davis, Caleb Martin, and Max Christie. Those moves left them with an open roster spot and some holes.

One way for contenders to do that is via the buyout market, as (usually) tanking teams will buy out veterans or high-priced who don't fit their timeline and they couldn't find trades for, allowing them to sign on elsewhere to compete for a championship. Rarely do buyout players make a big difference, but they can add value as rotation players occasionally.

Unfortunately for Dallas, they don't figure to be big players in the buyout market.

The trades left the Mavericks $174 thousand under the first tax apron, and they can't sign someone who will put them over that mark. Because salaries are prorated by day, the soonest they can sign a player to the veteran minimum contract is March 31st, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac.

Answering a popular question:

The Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors aren't really players in the buyout market. Neither is over the apron, because they can't be, as both are hard-capped at the first apron.

The challenge for them in adding players is that both have very…
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 7, 2025

By then, most of the in-demand players will have signed with their preferred destinations. Ben Simmons is hitting the market this week, and he's expected to sign with the LA Clippers once he clears waivers. There will be a few of players of his caliber who hit the market, but that doesn't mean Dallas couldn't use another bench guard or bench center. They'll have a difficult time finding worthy options, though.