Mavs rumors: Dallas could poke around trade market after making Seth Curry, Maxi Kleber signings official

According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Mavericks still have an eight-figure trade exception to use going forward after missing out on their top targets.

The Dallas Mavericks missed out on adding a big-name free agent yet again this summer. Just because the dust is finally settling on player movement as we reach the middle of July, though, doesn't mean the Mavericks are done looking for ways to improve their roster.

As ESPN analyst Bobby Marks notes, Dallas – after a sign-and-trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Delon Wright – still has more than half of the massive trade exception it gained last season from sending Harrison Barnes to the Sacramento Kings available to make additional moves.

2/2- Dallas will either have $14M in room (but would need to hold off on Porzingis, Kleber and Finney-Smith signing) or a $11.8M trade exception for the season.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 10, 2019

ESPN's Tim MacMahon had previously reported the team will “poke around” trade options.

The Mavericks made the signings of Seth Curry and Maxi Kleber official on Wednesday, ensuring they would continue the summer working over the salary cap. Dallas still has a small portion of the mid-level exception to spend after allotting most of it to Curry.

Rick Carlisle's team came into the offseason with the hope of signing a true impact player. The Mavericks were linked to Al Horford once it became apparent the veteran big man wouldn't be returning to the Boston Celtics, rumors that ultimately proved unfounded even before he agreed to terms with the Philadelphia 76ers. They then missed out on both Danny Green and Patrick Beverley, defensive stalwarts aggressively pursued by the team who eventually signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers.

There's no guarantee Dallas will put its trade exception to use; they routinely expire without teams taking advantage. But after another disappointing summer despite the additions of solid role players like Wright, Curry, and Boban Marjanovic, Mavericks fans can at least glean some solace from the prospect of their team making one more move going forward by sliding an expensive player into the remainder of that trade exception.