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

[FireNicoHarrison]

A lot of smokescreen... The deal is on the tablet, maybe they are just trying to find a 3rd team.

[ACMFFL]

Trae is an expiring contract even though he has a player option. Hawks arent going to be attaching any good asset to him with is contract that short. Risacher absolutely worth more than neutral. Zero clue how people came to his conclusion and clearly didn't watch his 2nd half last year. Hawks already said they wouldnt deal him for AD so cleary hawks value him.

I can't see Trae opting out, undersized ball hogs chuckers are at their lowest value ever, he'd probably lose money if he tested FA.

Trae's value is basically non-existing at his current salary. Now imagine if he doesn't agree to waive his 15% trade kicker..

I think Mavs have little interest in Risacher, especially if he's the centerpiece of the deal. Just give us Kennard if you guys are that high on Zacch, but premium asset still has to be attached. 
Sorry but Mavs are not a charity.

[mvossman]

Don’t get this trade Gafford thing, if we trade AD Gafford is our only legitimate center with Lively out. Only trade Naji if you plan on keeping PJ in the summer. Obviously this is all dependent on the offers we get, but we can’t tear the team down to the studs cuz this draft is the last one we control our own pick. Need to keep some competitive players around.

Gafford is much more effective if he has a high level P&R partner, and he doesn't have one right now.  He apparently still has value, but if he goes an entire season like this I'm not sure how much of that value he will keep.  If they actually manage to trade AD and Gafford, then you play a lot of small ball with PJ at the 5 and run.  It's not a recipe to win a lot of games, but it should still be fun.  

As for next season, you still have Lively as your starting center, so I wouldn't call it tearing down to the studs.  Given Lively health concerns, you are going to need some depth, but you should have plenty of options to handle that.  I don't see Gafford as a long term fit here, especially if they don't get an elite P&R PG.

[Dirknows]

Gafford is much more effective if he has a high level P&R partner, and he doesn't have one right now.  He apparently still has value, but if he goes an entire season like this I'm not sure how much of that value he will keep.  If they actually manage to trade AD and Gafford, then you play a lot of small ball with PJ at the 5 and run.  It's not a recipe to win a lot of games, but it should still be fun.  

As for next season, you still have Lively as your starting center, so I wouldn't call it tearing down to the studs.  Given Lively health concerns, you are going to need some depth, but you should have plenty of options to handle that.  I don't see Gafford as a long term fit here, especially if they don't get an elite P&R PG.

Let’s just say Lively is even moderately healthy for him, he still only plays 24 minutes a game. So we’d need another 5 who’s capable of playing 25 minutes.

[Winter]

Gafford is much more effective if he has a high level P&R partner, and he doesn't have one right now.  He apparently still has value, but if he goes an entire season like this I'm not sure how much of that value he will keep.  If they actually manage to trade AD and Gafford, then you play a lot of small ball with PJ at the 5 and run.  It's not a recipe to win a lot of games, but it should still be fun.  

As for next season, you still have Lively as your starting center, so I wouldn't call it tearing down to the studs.  Given Lively health concerns, you are going to need some depth, but you should have plenty of options to handle that.  I don't see Gafford as a long term fit here, especially if they don't get an elite P&R PG.

I think this is right. Had Gafford been completely healthy, we still wouldn't be seeing the center we need. His stats weren't going to be the same without Doncic.

Gafford plays hard, but he's not a very good defensive rebounding center and he can't expand his game much outside the paint. Unlike AD, he has no offensive game with his face to the basket, so he's limited really offensively and defensively. It's just not the right fit anymore. 

Lively is really the center you need, we just can't keep him healthy. The center position is an issue, but it's probably not as important now as shooting from the perimeter. It will have to be addressed eventually though.

[Mavsfan32]

I can't see Trae opting out, undersized ball hogs chuckers are at their lowest value ever, he'd probably lose money if he tested FA.

Trae's value is basically non-existing at his current salary. Now imagine if he doesn't agree to waive his 15% trade kicker..

I think Mavs have little interest in Risacher, especially if he's the centerpiece of the deal. Just give us Kennard if you guys are that high on Zacch, but premium asset still has to be attached. 
Sorry but Mavs are not a charity.

Trae is the worst defender in the nba right now. Hawks have given up 125+ points in all his games this year and have a current 129 drating with him on the court - 114drating without him according to bball reference. Offensively they have a +6 orating with him but doesn't make up for the bad defense. Hard to call Trae a ball hog when he led the nba in assists last year and is 3rd all time in APG behind John Stockton and Magic Johnson but every hawks game with him is a track meet.

[KillerLeft]

Trae is the worst defender in the nba right now. Hawks have given up 125+ points in all his games this year and have a current 129 drating with him on the court - 114drating without him according to bball reference. Offensively they have a +6 orating with him but doesn't make up for the bad defense. Hard to call Trae a ball hog when he led the nba in assists last year and is 3rd all time in APG behind John Stockton and Magic Johnson but every hawks game with him is a track meet.

1) This is making the poster's point for him, that Young will verrrry likely NOT opt out, unless I'm misunderstanding something in your post. There are like 1-2 teams, MAYBE, who'd even want him at this point - as a max player. If/when he realizes he's going to have to take a pay cut to continue as a pro, that number of teams will go up, and maybe significantly, but until then, my guess is that he's going to work to maneuver himself to one of the hard up, desperate franchises who need to sell tickets and might be willing to give him another max contract. SAC? Utah? WAS? Idk, but the list isn't long, and I'm pretty sure Dallas is on it (thank God). What that means in the context of the Mavs trade conversations we've been having is that no, he isn't an expiring contract. Assume whoever trades for him will be stuck with his horrible salary for another year. That's a problem in today's punitive CBA era. 

Again, my guess is that he'll be traded to a team who has deluded themselves into giving him another big deal, and in that case he'll opt out and sign that deal...but under no circumstances do I expect him to opt out in order to become a free agent. He'd have to have the worst agent in the business to do that. That would result in him relegated to MLE offers, most likely. 

2) The new type of "ball hog" is the kind who only passes the ball when they think it's likely to result in an assist. I'd say a good number of those on the assist leader board perennially (though not all) are basically the worst stat padders in the league. We can't really use that stat to gage a player's effectiveness at team ball anymore, other than just the general idea that they have the ball a lot and attract a lot of attention. The guy you want running your offense is the one willing to make the pass that creates the opportunity for the assist pass from someone else. Those players are becoming increasingly rare, and to be clear, many of them have high assist numbers, too, so I'm not suggesting that's a negative. But, it's not the smoking gun evidence in the case of "who's a ball hog" that some seem to believe.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Young is a ball hog and a very bad defender. Plus he is short.

Stay away from him or flip him to another team.

[ACMFFL]

Trae is the worst defender in the nba right now. Hawks have given up 125+ points in all his games this year and have a current 129 drating with him on the court - 114drating without him according to bball reference. Offensively they have a +6 orating with him but doesn't make up for the bad defense. Hard to call Trae a ball hog when he led the nba in assists last year and is 3rd all time in APG behind John Stockton and Magic Johnson but every hawks game with him is a track meet.

Well, that's how is viewed around the league.
Last season was 2nd for time of possession and 3rd for touches in the league, he has poor off-ball skills and he's kind of useless without the ball in his hands. Great passer but he's also a TOV machine (I mean he's the all-time leader in TOV per game with 4.2)

[Mavsfan32]

1) This is making the poster's point for him, that Young will verrrry likely NOT opt out, unless I'm misunderstanding something in your post. There are like 1-2 teams, MAYBE, who'd even want him at this point - as a max player. If/when he realizes he's going to have to take a pay cut to continue as a pro, that number of teams will go up, and maybe significantly, but until then, my guess is that he's going to work to maneuver himself to one of the hard up, desperate franchises who need to sell tickets and might be willing to give him another max contract. SAC? Utah? WAS? Idk, but the list isn't long, and I'm pretty sure Dallas is on it (thank God). What that means in the context of the Mavs trade conversations we've been having is that no, he isn't an expiring contract. Assume whoever trades for him will be stuck with his horrible salary for another year. That's a problem in today's punitive CBA era. 

Again, my guess is that he'll be traded to a team who has deluded themselves into giving him another big deal, and in that case he'll opt out and sign that deal...but under no circumstances do I expect him to opt out in order to become a free agent. He'd have to have the worst agent in the business to do that. That would result in him relegated to MLE offers, most likely. 

2) The new type of "ball hog" is the kind who only passes the ball when they think it's likely to result in an assist. I'd say a good number of those on the assist leader board perennially (though not all) are basically the worst stat padders in the league. We can't really use that stat to gage a player's effectiveness at team ball anymore, other than just the general idea that they have the ball a lot and attract a lot of attention. The guy you want running your offense is the one willing to make the pass that creates the opportunity for the assist pass from someone else. Those players are becoming increasingly rare, and to be clear, many of them have high assist numbers, too, so I'm not suggesting that's a negative. But, it's not the smoking gun evidence in the case of "who's a ball hog" that some seem to believe.

Thats what I think is a possibility and Trae is #1 in shot quality in so many passing stats even over Luka/Jokic. Worst defense and gives it right back? Sure but all his passing analytics are elite. He's certainly not a ball hog.

[mvossman]

37 years old KD went for Green, Brooks, #10, four 2nds..this is better than any Hawks package that includes Trae without the Pels first, and I think it's safe to assume that AD is more valuable than KD considering age (37 vs 32) and contract lenght (1 vs 1.5)

Jalen Green + Dillon Brooks ---> Trae Young
#10 + 4 2nds ---> 2026 Pels 1st

Hawks package is a bit more valuable than Houston's, but so is AD compared to KD. And I get that Trae's value isn't as negative as Jalen (Brooks makes up the difference value-wise tho), but still no team is interested in giving up value for Young and Atlanta is adamant in moving him to match AD salary cause they want financial flexibility. They can't have the cake and eat it.

I have seen Durant and Butler used as comps for AD trade.  Durant signed a 2 for 90 extension and Butler a 2 for 110 extension.  Do you have any interest in signing AD to that extension?  Does any team?  I would rather trade him for air.  I'm skeptical his market is going to be any better in the offseason.  That extension is going to play more of a role because he will be eligible for it, and the East is currently uniquely wide open presenting some significant desperation opportunities.  Not to mention the possibility that he can tank his value further with more injuries or declining play.  I really hope they can pry a decent offer from somebody soon.

[ACMFFL]

I have seen Durant and Butler used as comps for AD trade.  Durant signed a 2 for 90 extension and Butler a 2 for 110 extension.  Do you have any interest in signing AD to that extension?  Does any team?  I would rather trade him for air.  I'm skeptical his market is going to be any better in the offseason.  That extension is going to play more of a role because he will be eligible for it, and the East is currently uniquely wide open presenting some significant desperation opportunities.  Not to mention the possibility that he can tank his value further with more injuries or declining play.  I really hope they can pry a decent offer from somebody soon.

I assume Atlanta is definitely willing to extend AD, otherwise why would they be interested in acquiring him to begin with?

[mvossman]

I assume Atlanta is definitely willing to extend AD, otherwise why would they be interested in acquiring him to begin with?

Maybe?  Maybe they want him for a playoff run this season and a trial run for the future?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Afseth] Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that among the players the Mavericks have interest in from teams that have discussed Davis internally are Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors and Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks
The Dallas Mavericks are prioritizing the acquisition of at least one impactful young talent in an Anthony Davis trade and have interest in Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga and Atlanta Hawks wing Zaccharie Risacher, NBA sources told Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.

The Warriors and Hawks are interested in trading for Davis.

Golden State acquiring Davis is considered unlikely, though, since the franchise doesn’t want to part ways with Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler.

“Sources previously told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the Mavericks are prioritizing the acquisition of at least one impactful young talent if they ultimately move Davis. … Sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that among the players the Mavericks have interest in from teams that have discussed Davis internally are Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors and Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks,” Afseth wrote.

Davis is eligible for a four-year, $275 million maximum extension in August. The 2020 NBA champion is making $54.1 million this season. He’ll make $58.5 million next season and has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season.

Sources told Afseth that Davis will seek a contract extension from the Mavericks in the offseason if he doesn’t get traded this season. If Dallas does trade Davis, the Chicago native and his agent — Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group — will pursue an extension with the team he gets traded to.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Nothing new to report really.

That looming contract extension AD and Rich Paul want should be fun times this summer.

[ACMFFL]

Maybe?  Maybe they want him for a playoff run this season and a trial run for the future?

Well, Klutch hinted that they like the destination, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Rich Paul had already exploratory talks with the Hawks about the extension.

I'm definitely tired of the AD experience and I'm willing to move on asap but still not a good reason to give him away just for sake of it, I mean I'd rather keep Davis if the only alternative is eating Trae's contract without a premium pick attached.

[Mavs2021]

Jalen Suggs is hurt again. Guy is guard AD, but could that trigger Young to Atlanta?

[Mavs2021]

I´ll make a bold prediction. If AD does not get some stupid extension this summer, he´ll either settle for the MLE or retire at the end of his contract. If there is a player that is toast by 35 it´s him.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

At this point, I would take Risacher and the 2029 1st rd pick. I just want to move on from this era.

[mvossman]

Well, Klutch hinted that they like the destination, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Rich Paul had already exploratory talks with the Hawks about the extension.

I'm definitely tired of the AD experience and I'm willing to move on asap but still not a good reason to give him away just for sake of it, I mean I'd rather keep Davis if the only alternative is eating Trae's contract without a premium pick attached.

Agree with this.  I don't want Trae coming back unless we can reroute him as part of the trade or we get the NOP pick.  But AD is more valuable to Atlanta now than he will be in the summer when he can't help the current team make a playoff run.  The same goes for any of the other teams interested in him, and I am not sure the offseason is going to make it any easier for them.  Golden State still has to give up Green or Butler for example.

In my original post I said I hope they can get a reasonable offer.  I have not said trade him just to trade him.  But I don't think the options are likely to be better in the offseason, I think the Mavs extending him would be a disaster and running this roster back with a disgruntled AD doesn't make much sense either.