Mavericks open $6M trade exception that could absorb Marcus Sasser's salary

Dallas now has the cap tools to fit Sasser in.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 301 min read

On top of the full non-taxpayer MLE and a $20.3M TPE via the Anthony Davis trade, Dallas also generated a $6 million tra Via @TheSteinLine on X

What happened: Dallas generated a new $6 million trade exception by moving Jaden Hardy, adding to a cap toolkit that already includes the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception and a $20.3 million trade exception. Marcus Sasser's $5.2 million salary for next season could slot cleanly into the newly created $6 million exception.

Why it matters: The mechanics give Dallas multiple salary-matching paths to add a guard without sending out a player in return, a flexibility that matters for a roster managing the apron. The new exception traces back to the Anthony Davis trade and subsequent moves that reshaped the team's books for the 2026-27 season.

By the numbers: Dallas cap tools in play: full non-taxpayer mid-level exception; a $20.3M trade exception from the Anthony Davis deal; and a newly created $6M trade exception from the Jaden Hardy trade. Sasser's salary next season: $5.2M — under the $6M exception ceiling.

What to watch: Watch whether Dallas applies the $6 million exception to bring in Sasser before it expires, or holds the tools for a larger summer move.

Sources

@TheSteinLine 2026-06-30T15:35:45.007131+00:00

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