JULY 6: The Mavericks have officially acquired Lively’s rights in exchange for Bertans and the rights to Wallace, the team announced today (via Twitter).
JUNE 22: The Mavericks and Thunder have agreed to a trade, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that Davis Bertans and the No. 10 pick are headed to Oklahoma City in exchange for the No. 12 pick.
The Thunder selected Kentucky guard Cason Wallace at No. 10, Charania adds, while Dallas will get off Bertans’ pricey multiyear contract. The No. 12 pick that Dallas acquired was used on Duke big man Dereck Lively II, Shams Charania of The Stadium tweets.
The Mavericks will generate a $17MM trade exception with this trade, according to Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype (Twitter link). They’ll now be approximately $74MM under to projected luxury tax line, which will help them make other moves, such as re-signing Kyrie Irving.
[UPDATE: Mavs to use trade exception to acquire Richaun Holmes]
The Mavs were looking to move down in the lottery, get off a bad contract and acquire a veteran starter, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link). They accomplished the first two goals with this deal. They also add a promising young rim protector in Lively, who will fill a hole in the Dallas frontcourt with the team considered unlikely to re-sign big man Christian Wood.
Bertans had a career year in 2019/20 with the Wizards and cashed in with a five-year, $80MM deal. Dallas acquired Bertans as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade with Washington.
The Thunder now pick up the two remaining years left on his deal — $17MM next season and $16MM in 2024/25 with an early termination option. The final year is only partially guaranteed for $5MM.
Oklahoma City’s desire to move up was motivated by the concern that another team might jump the Thunder by making a trade with Orlando, which held the No. 11 pick, Jeremy Woo of ESPN tweets. The Raptors, who held the No. 13 selection, were a potential trade-up suitor for Wallace.
I don’t hate this for okc. Move up 2 spots and get the guard you wanted since Bilal went early. Bertans has 1 year and an early term option the next year so it’s not like they’re taking on long term salary either. Even possible he could be flipped mid season for another second round pick if he plays decent.
Be very surprised to see Bertans leave the OKC bench for any meaningful minutes
Nice trade. Seems to help both teams. Plus, they each got the draftee that they wanted
Bertans only has 5 million guaranteed for 2023/2024.
If he plays 75% of the games his salary becomes guaranteed. I wonder if OKC would bench him for 21 games to save 11 million.
Wonder if Bertans stays with OKC or gets included in another salary-dump trade.
If he stays in OKC, I guarantee the Thunder do what you suggested. Bertans is hot garbage, so the Thunder would be completely justified in not playing him.
Benching a player still means they suited up and was ready and playable. If he is in the roster for that game then it’ll count towards games played.
They might say he is injured and bertans may deny that and play anyways.
Interesting technicalities here but I think they will just play it straight.
I would suspect they will release him before his contract becomes guaranteed for the following season. I doubt he would be amenable to a buyout so they could just waive him after the 1st of the year if he isn’t producing.
Suprising that even if you don’t play a minute, it counts as “games played”.
So the waiving him before he reaches 75% of the regular season games makes sense.
They could keep him until the trade deadline, see if you can trade him or salary-dump him before. There should be takers for a salary dump around that time I guess.
Then either OKC or a third team can waive him, even if they’re on the hook for the remaining salary of this season and 5 million next year.
The 11 million saving is too significant not to waive him.
“They also add a promising young rim protector in Lively, who will fill a hole in the Dallas backcourt with the team considered unlikely to re-sign big man Christian Wood.”
“Backcourt?”
The stealth pick up of the offseason is Davis. The Thunder didn’t go counter cultural to not play him.
The Scooty Brooks coached player will emerge on this team and open up the Thunders inside passing game as well as base line one quite nicely.
Along with Micic the Thunder are legit to win 50 games this year.
Can you imagine the celebration that would be happening in Dallas right now if they had just added Jalen Brunson and Kristaps Porzingis to their roster this offseason??? Oh wait …. They had both of those guys with Luka. Even had Dorian Finley-Smith with them. Instead of Brunson, KP and DFS … They get Kyrie.