First in a series of 10 examining the likelihood of each of the pending free agents from the 2014-15 roster returning to the Dallas Mavericks.

2014-15 stats: 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.9 assists, 0.8 blocks, 41.2 field goal percentage, 27.4 3-point percentage

Never mind the individual numbers, none of which are that pretty. There is no doubt that Dallas needs to re-sign Al-Farouq Aminu, a 24-year-old with the potential to be a key role player for years to come.

The question is how the Mavs will manage to afford Aminu while making significant upgrades this summer.

That might not be simple after Aminu increased his value last season. The former lottery pick arrived as a minimum-salary reclamation project, rode pine for most of the first two months and then proved that he could be a do-it-all defender. He probably made some money in the playoffs, finishing strong by averaging 15 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals in the final three games.

League sources estimate that the market for Aminu will be in the $4 million per year range.

The problem for the Mavs is that they aren't likely to have the full midlevel exception ($5.46 million) and the cap-room exception ($2.81 million) probably won't be enough to pay Aminu market value. In other words, the Mavs should plan on needing to use some of their precious cap space to pay Aminu.

The Mavs will explore options to dump Raymond Felton's $3.95 million in a trade, preferring to use that money to pay Aminu. If the Mavs can't move Felton in a deal, they could opt to waive him via the stretch provision, which would chop two-thirds of his salary off the team's 2015-16 cap, creating a chunk of space that could help keep Aminu.

The Mavs might also be able to convince Aminu to accept a below-market offer to stay in Dallas on a short-term deal, such as a two-year deal with a player option for the second season, like the contract he signed last summer. Such a deal would have to come with a promise from the Mavs to negotiate in good faith next summer, when they would have Aminu's early Bird rights, allowing them to go over the cap and pay him as much as the midlevel exception to keep him. With the cap soaring next summer, Aminu might make more money in the long run in such a scenario.

It would also allow him to continue working with the Dallas coaching staff that helped develop him and playing in a system in which he found a comfort zone. Aminu has clearly indicated that he'd be happy to stay in Dallas.

"I love this team," Aminu said. "I love this city. ... I hope I can be right here."

The feeling is mutual, but the Mavs have to find a way to make the money work for Aminu.