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

[Smitty]

To get the right deal, we dont find them (whoever the right team would be). They find us, coming to see if they can pry away AD. And if AD is thought to be available, some team (perhaps several) will try to figure out how THEY can be the one to get him.

Let them chase. Bid. Beg. There's only 1 AD.

That was Nico's lack of negotiating skill. He had the prize but he self identified the return to chase. He should have been the seller, but made himself the buyer, which forced him to pay LAs price as they defined it. Stupid.

I think the agent, Klutch, will do most of the leg work on any AD trade, just like all the top players. Sure, the Mavs new GM will have some input but I think you assume too much power of the GM, especially if it’s not a well established one in the league. With the report that Dumont is already working closely with the agent, and the reports today that the “new brass” have had discussions of radical roster changes, it’s safe to assume this will be an inclusive trade. With the player and agent having the biggest stick unfortunately.

[KillerLeft]

 That was Nico's lack of negotiating skill. He had the prize but he self identified the return to chase. He should have been the seller, but made himself the buyer, which forced him to pay LAs price as they defined it. Stupid.

Absolutely right. Well said!

[vfromlmf]

No doubt the agent will want AD somewhere that will extend him and that means a win-now title contender. So sort by power rankings and assess which teams are a player away. Say what you want about AD’s health but he’s a major needle mover if someone wants to go win a chip this year. There are complex but workable ways to get him to just about any team.

[Jym]

Not sure of it's even possible moneywise but going for AD would be such a Knicks move

[vfromlmf]

NYK could easily build a package! AD would be the second best player on that roster.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I think the agent, Klutch, will do most of the leg work on any AD trade, just like all the top players. Sure, the Mavs new GM will have some input but I think you assume too much power of the GM, especially if it’s not a well established one in the league. With the report that Dumont is already working closely with the agent, and the reports today that the “new brass” have had discussions of radical roster changes, it’s safe to assume this will be an inclusive trade. With the player and agent having the biggest stick unfortunately.

........this.

I think we can forget about places like Charlotte and likely Detroit if Klutch is involved.

[Dirknows]

Not sure of it's even possible moneywise but going for AD would be such a Knicks move

Would have to be some sort of complex multi team trade unless we want KAT…which I don’t think we would.

[Smitty]

........this.

I think we can forget about places like Charlotte and likely Detroit if Klutch is involved.

I think there’s a lot of smoke around Chicago. If I was a betting man, that’s where I’d put my money. Easy to make the money work also.

[mvossman]

I think there’s a lot of smoke around Chicago. If I was a betting man, that’s where I’d put my money. Easy to make the money work also.

Not that big of a fan of Coby White, but that is probably best that we can do for a youngish player.

[Mavs2021]

I think there’s a lot of smoke around Chicago. If I was a betting man, that’s where I’d put my money. Easy to make the money work also.

I´d be willing to bet big on

Giddey
Dosunmu
Buzelis
Williams
Davis

Bench: Klay, Huerter, Jones

Does that look like a play-off team? Thr East is sneaky deep. If they lose Davis for any extended period of time, they are 1000% in the lottery with that starting five.

[Smitty]

Not that big of a fan of Coby White, but that is probably best that we can do for a youngish player.

FWIW, I’m a big fan. A 6’5 PG. 25 years old. Good 3PT shooter on great volume. Proven 20 PPG scorer. Plays ~70+ games a year.

[mvossman]

FWIW, I’m a big fan. A 6’5 PG. 25 years old. Good 3PT shooter on great volume. Proven 20 PPG scorer. Plays ~70+ games a year.

My issue is that he is a total sieve on defense.  His best fit is probably 6th man and he is going to want to get paid next year.

[SleepingHero]

The Knicks are a team to watch. Could be a multi team deal with OG + Robinson outgoing. and filler/expirings + young player + 2 FRPs going to Dallas.

Robinson is worth a first and OG is worth a first and a young player with upside.

Townes + AD is interesting from a basketball standpoint and the Knicks are a win now team.

If NYK is willing to pay OG+2 FRP for AD, I am booking that flight myself regardless the cost for AD.

OG+Robinson+2 FRPs is an insane haul for AD. 

My current pipedream is that the Spurs are ready to contend and actually see a twin towers with AD+Wemby (and a potential backup for Wemby should he get hurt).

AD to SAS for Dylan Harper+Salary filler+2030 pick back. Nothing else. Spurs have a massive logjam at the guard position. Fox is due to play 30+ mpg. Castle deserves 30+mpg. That leaves pretty much nothing left for Harper. 

Given they have Fox, I think the Spurs could see value in making a win now move by only sacrificing one prospect with no other future picks involved. They practically are swapping Harper for AD. They still have their treasure trove for the next big move.

Meanwhile Dallas gets their young PG to pair with Flagg. Both on the same timelines, both young and are potential superstars. 

Further, they are set to be FA in 2029, meaning the Mavs will have massive capspace in 2028. I wonder who could be potentially available then

[cow]

If NYK is willing to pay OG+2 FRP for AD, I am booking that flight myself regardless the cost for AD.

OG+Robinson+2 FRPs is an insane haul for AD. 

My current pipedream is that the Spurs are ready to contend and actually see a twin towers with AD+Wemby (and a potential backup for Wemby should he get hurt).

AD to SAS for Dylan Harper+Salary filler+2030 pick back. Nothing else. Spurs have a massive logjam at the guard position. Fox is due to play 30+ mpg. Castle deserves 30+mpg. That leaves pretty much nothing left for Harper. 

Given they have Fox, I think the Spurs could see value in making a win now move by only sacrificing one prospect with no other future picks involved. They practically are swapping Harper for AD. They still have their treasure trove for the next big move.

Meanwhile Dallas gets their young PG to pair with Flagg. Both on the same timelines, both young and are potential superstars. 

Further, they are set to be FA in 2029, meaning the Mavs will have massive capspace in 2028. I wonder who could be potentially available then

Would you do it without the 2030 FRP?

[SleepingHero]

Would you do it without the 2030 FRP?

I would prefer to keep it in the trade, but if it came down to whether or not the Spurs say no including it, I would axe it from the deal to make it happen. 

I don't value AD that much. He's a fantastic player. He is a good player. He isn't going to take this team anywhere. Harper's upside and age makes his pairing with Flagg almost too good to be true. Their games work off each other, with Harper being a primary offensive initiator with Coop filling everything else. 

And of course, the idea that the Mavs will have theoretical space in 2028 with those two (and maybe another high draft pick this year) makes it all the more enticing.

[cow]

I would prefer to keep it in the trade, but if it came down to whether or not the Spurs say no including it, I would axe it from the deal to make it happen. 

I don't value AD that much. He's a fantastic player. He is a good player. He isn't going to take this team anywhere. Harper's upside and age makes his pairing with Flagg almost too good to be true. Their games work off each other, with Harper being a primary offensive initiator with Coop filling everything else. 

And of course, the idea that the Mavs will have theoretical space in 2028 with those two (and maybe another high draft pick this year) makes it all the more enticing.

That's mostly where I am at too.  Hopefully the Harper/Flagg combo would be at a point in 2030 where that pick would be in the 20s.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I don’t think Dylan Harper or Castle even make it into the conversation for an AD trade. Harper would be a no brainer. I’d take back bad salaries and no picks/other assets if we could get him.

[KillerLeft]

I don’t think Dylan Harper or Castle even make it into the conversation for an AD trade. Harper would be a no brainer. I’d take back bad salaries and no picks/other assets if we could get him.

Yeah, I love the dream. I'd like it a ton more than Fox, obviously. I just don't know why SA lets go of Harper before they even know what he is. But if they'd be willing to do it, I'd be all about it.

[khaled1987]

Am I the only one who think Spurs will be more interested in PJ than AD?
And I am not sure I would be ok with trading PJ tbh

[cow]

Yeah, I love the dream. I'd like it a ton more than Fox, obviously. I just don't know why SA lets go of Harper before they even know what he is. But if they'd be willing to do it, I'd be all about it.

As an aside, flipping Fox so soon would be strange to me since SA just traded for and extended him.  The believe they are ready to compete now and he's part of that plan.  I'm not saying that opens the door to Harper and I kind of think the draft compensation would need to go there way in any potential AD swap.  You'd probably need to get a 3rd party involved anyway to get enough salary coming back to the Mavs to make sense.  Maybe there is a world were you absorb a bad contract like PG13 and send that compensation for Harper.  That assumes SA would have interest in AD and had any willingness to let go of Harper.  I'm not sure which of those two I'm more skeptical of (probably the Harper bit).

I don't really think the Mavs are going to do anything major until the new GM is in place and I'm kind of thinking that might not happen until the offseason.

Am I the only one who think Spurs will be more interested in PJ than AD?
And I am not sure I would be ok with trading PJ tbh

I'm with you on the interest part, I'm just not sure what PJ would bring you back. I like PJ a lot, but I don't think he fits our time table. I'd be really greedy before shipping him out though.