The NBA trade deadline has a funny way of making grown men lose their minds. Every year, we see the same cycle. A big name underperforms, a desperate team needs a "missing piece," and suddenly, Twitter is convinced a deal is done because a private jet landed in Love Field. Honestly, the recent noise around the mavericks buyout rumors simmons is the perfect case study in how one Marc Stein tweet can set the entire basketball world on fire.
We’ve all seen the headlines. Some of them made it sound like Ben Simmons was already picking out a condo in Uptown Dallas. But if you actually look at the math and the timing, the reality was way more complicated. It’s kinda fascinating how close this actually came to happening before the salary cap rules basically acted like a giant "No Entry" sign.
Why Dallas Actually Wanted Him (Yes, Really)
Let’s be real: mentioning Ben Simmons and "Mavericks" in the same sentence usually gets you laughed out of most sports bars in North Texas. Why would a team that just went to the Finals want a guy who has played fewer games than most bench warmers over the last three years?
It wasn't about the 2018 All-Star version of Ben.
According to insiders like Marc Stein, the Mavericks were eyeing Simmons specifically as a small-ball center. Think about it. When the Mavs shipped out Luka Doncic in that absolute earthquake of a trade for Anthony Davis, they were left with a massive hole in their playmaking. They needed someone who could grab a rebound, push the break, and find Kyrie Irving or Caleb Martin in the corners.
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Simmons, for all his offensive "allergies" to shooting, is still a 6'10" guy who can pass the hell out of the ball.
Dallas was getting hammered by injuries. Davis was banged up. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford were both missing time. The Mavs were looking at their roster and seeing a bunch of 6'6" wings trying to guard centers. In that specific, desperate context, a buyout version of Ben Simmons—where you're paying him the veteran minimum—starts to look like a genius low-risk move.
The Math That Killed the Dream
Here is where it gets nerdy, but it’s the only part that actually matters.
The Mavericks were basically broke. Not "Mark Cuban's bank account" broke, but "NBA Luxury Tax" broke. After the Anthony Davis trade and the Caleb Martin acquisition, the Mavs were hovering about $200,000 away from the first luxury-tax apron.
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The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a beast. If you’re over that first apron, you literally cannot sign a player in the buyout market if their previous salary was higher than the mid-level exception. Simmons was making over $40 million.
- Dallas was too expensive.
- The rules are designed to stop rich teams from hoarding talent.
- The Clippers had more "wiggle room."
It's basically that simple. The mavericks buyout rumors simmons fans were obsessing over were dead on arrival because the Mavs were exactly $16.8 million over the tax line. They couldn't even offer him a roster spot without the league office vetoing it faster than you can say "hack-a-Ben."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Buyout
There’s this misconception that a buyout is just a player quitting. It’s not. It’s a business negotiation where a guy like Simmons gives back a few million dollars just to get the hell out of a losing situation. In Brooklyn, the Nets were tanking for a top pick. They had no reason to play a 29-year-old on an expiring deal.
When the news broke that Simmons and the Nets finally agreed to part ways, the Clippers, Rockets, and Cavaliers were the ones with the actual leverage.
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Dallas was the "mystery team" in the background, but they were never actually at the front of the line. The Clippers eventually won out because they could offer him a clear role behind James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Plus, living in LA isn't a bad consolation prize when you've just been paid $40 million to play 33 games.
The Reality of Ben Simmons in 2026
If you’re still holding out hope for a Simmons-to-Dallas reunion in free agency, I’ve got some bad news.
The guy's stock is at an all-time low. He rejected a minimum deal from the Knicks recently because he’s trying to prove he’s worth more, but the league isn't buying it. His back issues are chronic. He’s averaging about 5 points and 5 rebounds. Those aren't "star" numbers; those are "I might be playing in China next year" numbers.
The Mavs have shifted their focus elsewhere anyway. With the 2026 trade deadline approaching, they're more worried about keeping Anthony Davis healthy and navigating the fact that they don't own their own draft picks until the 2030s. Adding a project like Simmons just doesn't fit the "win-now" timeline they're stuck in.
Actionable Insights for Mavs Fans
If you're tracking the mavericks buyout rumors simmons or any future buyout targets, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Apron: If the Mavs are over the first or second tax apron, they are essentially locked out of the "big name" buyout market. Don't believe the hype until you see a salary dump trade first.
- Look for "Small-Ball" Fits: The coaching staff under Jason Kidd clearly values versatile defenders who can play multiple positions. If a veteran wing who can pass becomes available (think someone like a Bruce Brown or a Robert Covington type), that's a much more realistic target than a former All-Star.
- Ignore the "Name Value": In 2026, Simmons is a name, not a game-changer. Focus on the Mavs' actual needs: perimeter defense and backup rim protection.
The Simmons saga in Dallas was a classic case of what happens when a team's needs meet a player's availability, only to be crushed by the cold, hard reality of the NBA's financial rules. It was a fun "what if" for a week, but the Mavs are probably better off having avoided the headache.