The Anthony Davis trade created more than salary relief for Dallas. It also gave the Mavericks a trade exception that could help reshape the roster around Cooper Flagg.
When Dallas traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in February, the headline was the salary relief. The Mavericks moved out of the second apron, avoided a repeater tax penalty that would have cost the organization north of $350 million and reset their financial infrastructure around Cooper Flagg. But buried inside the trade details was another tool that has received far less attention.
The deal created a $20.8 million trade exception that allows Dallas to acquire a player making up to $21 million without sending salary back in return.
A trade exception is not cap space, Dallas cannot use it to sign free agents directly. But the Mavericks can use it to absorb a player in a trade without needing to match salaries, giving them real flexibility to pursue players other teams may need to move for financial or roster reasons.
With the offseason officially opening July 1, here are three players worth targeting.
Collin Sexton
Sexton becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and may be the most straightforward option. He averaged 23.2 points per game for Utah this season while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range, making him one of the most attainable scoring guards on the market.
His contract demands are expected to fall in the $18 million to $22 million range annually, which fits within what the trade exception can absorb if Utah agrees to a sign-and-trade structure. For Dallas, a player who can create his own shot alongside Flagg without needing every possession designed for him is exactly the kind of offensive profile the roster needs.
Rui Hachimura
Hachimura is one of the more quietly productive forwards available this summer. As an unrestricted free agent, he can sign with any team without the Lakers having matching rights. The 28-year-old averaged 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 39.2% from 3-point range this season, giving him the kind of versatile offensive profile that fits on winning rosters.
He is expected to command somewhere in the $18 million to $20 million range annually, which also fits within what Dallas can absorb in a sign-and-trade structure. Hachimura’s ability to guard multiple positions, attack closeouts and hold his own defensively against wings and bigs fits cleanly next to Flagg on both ends.
The Lakers enter the offseason in a complicated financial position and Dallas has the tool to make an aggressive offer if Los Angeles is open to a deal. A proven 28-year-old forward who fits the Flagg timeline is exactly the type of player this trade exception was created to target.
Ayo Dosunmu
Dosunmu is the highest-upside option on this list and may also be the most expensive. According to Forbes, if he leaves Minnesota, his market value could start at four years and $64.7 million, which would put his annual salary around $16 million and within Dallas’ trade exception range.
After one of the most efficient playoff performances of the postseason, when he scored 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting against Denver, his price has likely only increased. Minnesota is deep in luxury tax territory and paying Dosunmu may become structurally difficult depending on how the Timberwolves handle the rest of their roster.
The trade exception expires after one year, meaning the Mavericks have a limited window to use it intelligently or lose it entirely. Dallas knows what it needs around Flagg. The tool is already in place to help get it done.
