Dallas Mavericks point guard Raymond Felton recently exercised his $3.9-million player option for the 2015-16 season, a wise move for a 30-year-old veteran who likely wouldn't garner much interest as a free agent.
The Mavericks, however, have made bringing back forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who played big minutes in the postseason with Chandler Parsons injured, their top priority.
League sources tell ESPN's Tim McMahon that Aminu will reap roughly $4 million per year on the open market, with the cap-room exception ($2.81 million) likely not being enough to entice the fifth-year pro.
Therefore, the Mavs will dangle Felton on the trade market in an effort to free up cap space, according to McMahon. Another option would be to waive him using the stretch provision, erasing two-thirds of Felton's salary off Dalllas's 2015-16 salary cap.
McMahon notes that the Mavericks and Aminu could agree on a short-term deal, similar to the one he signed last year for the veteran's minimum with a player option for a second season. With Aminu's Bird rights next summer, Dallas could offer him the midlevel exception.
Aminu averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 30 minutes during the Mavericks' opening-round postseason series with the Houston Rockets - a welcome boost over the 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds he put up during the regular season.
Coach Rick Carlisle told Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com last month that he would love to see Aminu back with the team next season, saying: "He’s an exciting young player. We certainly hope that we can get him back here, because he fits into our culture, he fits into our fabric and fits into the character of this organization."
