Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[Kidnova]

Let's say they strike out on all of the expected targets (Paul, Russell, Brogden), then what are the other options? The best I've seen seem to be:

Cameron Payne
Tre Jones
Dalano Banton(?)

Any of these guys worth the TPMLE?

[SleepingHero]

MFFL NATION (@NationMffl)
REPORT: There is mutual interest between the Dallas Mavericks and Dante Exum returning to the team, but it looks like they won’t have “the roster room to do,” per @TheSteinLine

[FireNicoHarrison]

Probably B-Will is a better playmaker than all free agents this year and he is just nothing special. It's sad.

But i agree that Harrison will sign D-Lo and try to sell us that he learned from Curry how to win a ring.

[FireNicoHarrison]

MFFL NATION (@NationMffl)
REPORT: There is mutual interest between the Dallas Mavericks and Dante Exum returning to the team, but it looks like they won’t have “the roster room to do,” per @TheSteinLine

Assistant coaches don't need availability... New role for Dante.

[KillerLeft]

MFFL NATION (@NationMffl)
REPORT: There is mutual interest between the Dallas Mavericks and Dante Exum returning to the team, but it looks like they won’t have “the roster room to do,” per @TheSteinLine

When is that guaranteed $700K date on Williams' non-guaranteed contract year? 

I wonder if they've put any thought into simply choosing Exum over Williams...it would be a tough choice for me.

[KillerLeft]

Williams' contract is non-guaranteed, with some dates when parts of it become guaranteed. Here's what AI has to offer:

The partial guarantees are as follows:
July 7, 2025: A partial guarantee of $200,000 becomes effective.
Start of the 2025-26 Season: The partial guarantee increases to $850,000 if he remains on the roster.
The contract would become fully guaranteed later in the season, specifically on January 10, 2026.

At this point, I wonder if they are considering a path where they just cut him and get a minimum player they like better. I know we're all big fans of his potential around here, and maybe they are, too. But, my gut tells me Exum would help more (if he can stay healthy).

I suppose alternatively, they could just put the kibosh on all this DLo talk and sign Exum for the minimum to take the role they'd offer DLo, but something tells me the idea of signing a guy from the list we've been reading was part of the pitch to get Kyrie to take the deal he did, so I doubt that's an option they're considering.

I can't wait to see how they handle all of this.

[Smitty]

Williams' contract is non-guaranteed, with some dates when parts of it become guaranteed. Here's what AI has to offer:

The partial guarantees are as follows:
July 7, 2025: A partial guarantee of $200,000 becomes effective.
Start of the 2025-26 Season: The partial guarantee increases to $850,000 if he remains on the roster.
The contract would become fully guaranteed later in the season, specifically on January 10, 2026.

At this point, I wonder if they are considering a path where they just cut him and get a minimum player they like better. I know we're all big fans of his potential around here, and maybe they are, too. But, my gut tells me Exum would help more (if he can stay healthy).

I suppose alternatively, they could just put the kibosh on all this DLo talk and sign Exum for the minimum to take the role they'd offer DLo, but something tells me the idea of signing a guy from the list we've been reading was part of the pitch to get Kyrie to take the deal he did, so I doubt that's an option they're considering.

I can't wait to see how they handle all of this.

I suggested a couple days ago that they might consider waiving him and then bringing him back on a two-way deal, since he’s still eligible. I don’t think they do that for an Exum type player, and I doubt Williams would be on board coming back on the two-way all together… but it’s an option I suppose.

[Smitty]

Haha, that'd be great, wouldn't it.

Working through this roster construction, the Mavs currently have 14, leaving one open spot, that's already been earmarked for a Guard with the TPMLE.

Moving a player like Omax ($3,007,080) for a SRP that can be a Two-Way contract, frees up another roster spot to add a minimum and still have ~$2M cushion under A2.

If you believe the reports that Kai Jones is coming back, and he's not eligible for a Two-Way contract, then they'll have to make a move like this, or at least a player trade for a future pick, or a 2 for 1 trade that free's up enough space to add a minimum.

I think Brandon Williams is non-guaranteed, and eligible for another Two-Way, but I have a hard time seeing that being the move with their lack of guard depth already...

[SleepingHero]

Evan Sidery (@esidery)
The Celtics are exploring trade scenarios for Anfernee Simons, per @ByJayKing (https://t.co/YLov17Adj8).

Trading Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract would allow added flexibility to retain Al Horford and Luke Kornet, who will have strong free agent markets.

[Knutsen]

Let's say they strike out on all of the expected targets (Paul, Russell, Brogden), then what are the other options?  The best I've seen seem to be:

Cameron Payne
Tre Jones
Dalano Banton(?)

Any of these guys worth the TPMLE?

Schroeder - who might be the best option anyways for our new gritty and feisty style.

[DallasMaverick]

Schroeder - who might be the best option anyways for our new gritty and feisty style.

Rondo 2.0

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. There's mutual interest between the NBA veteran and the Clippers in a new deal together.

[SleepingHero]

Schroeder - who might be the best option anyways for our new gritty and feisty style.

Schroeder is a talented player.

There is a reason why every single team he's been apart of has been giddy to let him go. Locker room cancer through and through.

[F Gump]

So, if I take your point, FGump, that rules out use of the tpMLE along with any 3 for 1 deal we can think of, correct?

No, you just have to send way more salary than you take back. I assumed your desired deal would likely have Gaff as a bigger salary, plus the debris (CM, JH, DP), which is a close match and logical deal for your wishes.

I guess I should not have assumed -- a deal of some sort WOULD be possible. You can swap in a bigger salary as needed.

However, Mavs bigger salaries also are attached to their much better players. If you are willing to send more really good players, then yes a deal is doable (but now an added issue - both the big salary to Jrue PLUS the cost in players sent can be hard to swallow).

[Kidnova]

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trading guard Dillon Jones and a second-round pick to the Washington Wizards, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025

Washington is sending guard Colby Jones to the Thunder, who will then release him, sources said.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Stein] The Pistons and Atlanta are the two strongest contenders to come to terms with Nickeil Alexander-Walker after free agency commences for real Monday night at 6 PM ET. Sacramento is regarded as a significantly strong contender to sign Schröder away from the Pistons.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Stein] Charlotte and Memphis are two teams that keep coming up as likely suitors for Ty Jerome, who is now regarded as a lock to leave Cleveland to find the deal he is known to be seeking that starts at (or at worst adjacent) to the full $14.1 million midlevel exception.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Charania] Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.
Source: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.s...qxg6axts2v

Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.

Paul adds: LeBron "knows the Lakers are building for the future ... but he values a realistic chance of winning it all."

[FireNicoHarrison]

[Charania] Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.
Source: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.s...qxg6axts2v

Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.

Paul adds: LeBron "knows the Lakers are building for the future ... but he values a realistic chance of winning it all."

Hahahahahahaha good luck Luka.

[omahen]

Hahahahahahaha good luck Luka.

???

What did you think would happen? That he would just decline his option and sign for half the money? I think this is actually a good sign. This gives Lakers flexibility for next season and another signal they are building around Luka. It doesn't look another 1+1 at max money was on the table for LeBron