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

[omahen]

So i was right... Again.

I told you guys, a lot of teams want street clothes... Just keep calm and see this bidding war.

Popcorn.

Something doesn't add up here. You call him street cloths but expect he has great trade value

[FireNicoHarrison]

Something doesn't add up here. You call him street cloths but expect he has great trade value

I'm not the one who creates that nickname... Anyway someone traded Luka Doncic for him so i don't understand, what is the problem?

[KillerLeft]

[Amick] league sources say Davis’ representatives do not believe there’s an extension agreement to be had with the Mavericks in the upcoming offseason. As such, … there is a strong desire from Davis’ camp to get him traded to a destination where they feel an extension would be more likely.


[Amick] Anthony Davis is believed to be open to a trade with the Hawks or Raptors, two teams who have shown legitimate interest recently
While the Hawks are in the process of trying to trade Trae Young, league sources say [Dallas] doesn't have an appetite to take back Youngs contracts in exchange for Davis.

This is basically what I thought was going on the second they started leaking stuff about trading him (whoever is doing the leaking), and why I haven't been worried about an extension at all. 

The trade desire isn't from the Mavericks, it's from the people focused on getting Davis his next huge extension, and it's because they know a team building around a 19 year old won't want to give him one. That has seemed fairly obvious to me from the start.

I think this is great news, as essentially the Mavericks are the least motivated of all three parties (them, Davis's camp and whatever team(s) are trying to acquire him) to get it done. I imagine that's the best scenario in terms of extracting maximum return, whatever that might be. It's the opposite of the position they've almost always been in for past negotiations. They bought PJW and Gafford, for example. They bought Kyrie. Here, they are selling Davis, and while the goal in all cases is to improve your team's circumstances, I think being on this end of the deal is a little different and requires a different mindset. All they really have to do is wait patiently for some owner/GM to convince themselves they must have Davis, and the deal might end up being better than some of us believe. Might. 

[FireNicoHarrison]

Exactly KL. Great spot for us.

[KillerLeft]

Even if they DON'T trade Davis at the deadline, he'll still be focused on the extension, but I don't think the likelihood he gets it in Dallas goes up even a little. He has a player option AFTER next season, and he's 100% not going to turn that down if he hasn't gotten an extension yet. Further, how does he tempt any team into offering him more years and money? By playing and being Anthony Davis, of course, so I'd argue the team you want to be is the one who has him between now and the day he signs whatever his next deal will be. If the Mavs portion of that time is only now to the trade deadline, fine. But, if it includes part or all of next season, that's fine, too. The team you DON'T want to be, imho, is the one who has him AFTER he signs that next contract.

Ultimately, Davis will end up on a team who believes their championship window matches the length of the contract he has and is hoping to sign.

[Chicagojk]

This is basically what I thought was going on the second they started leaking stuff about trading him (whoever is doing the leaking), and why I haven't been worried about an extension at all. 

The trade desire isn't from the Mavericks, it's from the people focused on getting Davis his next huge extension, and it's because they know a team building around a 19 year old won't want to give him one. That has seemed fairly obvious to me from the start.

I think this is great news, as essentially the Mavericks are the least motivated of all three parties (them, Davis's camp and whatever team(s) are trying to acquire him) to get it done. I imagine that's the best scenario in terms of extracting maximum return, whatever that might be. It's the opposite of the position they've almost always been in for past negotiations. They bought PJW and Gafford, for example. They bought Kyrie. Here, they are selling Davis, and while the goal in all cases is to improve your team's circumstances, I think being on this end of the deal is a little different and requires a different mindset. All they really have to do is wait patiently for some owner/GM to convince themselves they must have Davis, and the deal might end up being better than some of us believe. Might. 

It certainly feels that way with the latest reporting.  Tough to know for sure without all the info though.
 
Although, I can certainly see Clutch feeling like an extension not coming from Dallas that they would be much more aggressive trying to find a trade candidate.   While the Mavs are doing what every team does....talk to other teams and bounce ideas out there.    

I hope this is the case and the leaks were not leaked by the Mavs.   I guess it is not a huge deal, but I like front offices who work in the shadows.    Things make much more sense if this is a Clutch thing.   

Question, are there teams really willing to extend AD?  Like now?  That would be surprising.

[Dirknows]

So every team in the East thinks they’re an AD away from the finals. Let’s focus on teams with a win now timeline and assets…Toronto has all their picks, a couple interesting young players. We know what the Hawks have. Heat don’t really have a ton of interesting pieces. Bulls are too young, same with Charlotte. Not interested in anything from Milwaukee. I think it’s gonna come down to Toronto and Atlanta, unless a dark horse team enters the picture.

[Smitty]

"Along with Zubac, Gafford has generated significant trade interest this season after signing a three-year, $54 million extension in the offseason. The Indiana Pacers have been at the forefront of conversations regarding Gafford, while the Warriors, Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Orlando Magic have all come up as potential suitors from multiple league sources."



"White is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Bulls continue to field calls from numerous teams interested in White. The Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and LA Clippers are among several teams from the Western Conference interested in the Bulls guard, sources said."

[Chicagojk]

"Along with Zubac, Gafford has generated significant trade interest this season after signing a three-year, $54 million extension in the offseason. The Indiana Pacers have been at the forefront of conversations regarding Gafford, while the Warriors, Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Orlando Magic have all come up as potential suitors from multiple league sources."



"White is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. The Bulls continue to field calls from numerous teams interested in White. The Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and LA Clippers are among several teams from the Western Conference interested in the Bulls guard, sources said."

Gafford has struggled this year but appears to be playing better recently.  I really like that dude, but if Mavs keep AD and Lively than Gafford is the odd man out.    Very tricky though because we have no idea on AD and Lively is an injury concern.   

No interest in the Warriors offers...would have to be a third team.    Same with the Lakers and I would just eliminate the Lakers for now on my trade calls.    Memphis is interesting.  I would prefer to go outside the division though.   Don't see anything with the Clippers either.     Magic would be interesting.   Not sure what, but if the players worked I think that could be a good fit for Gafford.

[Smitty]

Gafford has struggled this year but appears to be playing better recently.  I really like that dude, but if Mavs keep AD and Lively than Gafford is the odd man out.    Very tricky though because we have no idea on AD and Lively is an injury concern.   

No interest in the Warriors offers...would have to be a third team.    Same with the Lakers and I would just eliminate the Lakers for now on my trade calls.    Memphis is interesting.  I would prefer to go outside the division though.   Don't see anything with the Clippers either.     Magic would be interesting.   Not sure what, but if the players worked I think that could be a good fit for Gafford.

There's a 3-team deal staring right at us:

DAL: White
IND: Gafford
CHI: Mathurin

Mavs need a Guard, Pacers need a Big, and Bulls needs a Wing.

[KillerLeft]

There's a 3-team deal staring right at us:

DAL: White
IND: Gafford
CHI: Mathurin

Mavs need a Guard, Pacers need a Big, and Bulls needs a Wing.

I'd do that. Some might want Mathurin instead of White, and I'd do that one, too. Ultimately, I think both players represent a fair amount of risk and a fair amount of potential payoff, so I'd be fine with whichever one more easily fits into the hole of what Dallas is currently lacking. Ultimately, it kind of comes down to what they expect to get from Kyrie, going forward, and they know more about that than we, but...idk, I'd be thinking already about life after Kyrie if I were in their shoes.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I think White (with the new huge contract) is a bad move.

[Chicagojk]

I think White (with the new huge contract) is a bad move.

I think the question is what is a huge new contract?   Will he be in a similar position as Grimes (Grimes was restricted so he was even more limited on what he could get).   There will be a few more teams with cap room this summer but not a lot.   So, will he get MLE type offers from teams.   Is a Gafford sized contract what he is going to get?   I have trouble seeing him getting 30 million.  25 million for his role seems quite high too.

[soog]

All of these reports are simply public negotiations.

Mavs are open for business. Mavs want to keep AD. AD wants to stay. AD wants to go. Atlanta wants AD. Atlanta isn’t willing to give up Risacher or the NOP pick.

All of them contradict one another. None can be completely trusted. The truth likely lands somewhere in the middle.

I still firmly believe AD is moved by the trade deadline and that the deal includes something like the NOP pick or equivalent value. They can keep Risacher as far as I’m concerned.

[soog]

I'd do that. Some might want Mathurin instead of White, and I'd do that one, too. Ultimately, I think both players represent a fair amount of risk and a fair amount of potential payoff, so I'd be fine with whichever one more easily fits into the hole of what Dallas is currently lacking. Ultimately, it kind of comes down to what they expect to get from Kyrie, going forward, and they know more about that than we, but...idk, I'd be thinking already about life after Kyrie if I were in their shoes.

I love Gaff, but I’d take either of those or a future FRP.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I think the question is what is a huge new contract?   Will he be in a similar position as Grimes (Grimes was restricted so he was even more limited on what he could get).   There will be a few more teams with cap room this summer but not a lot.   So, will he get MLE type offers from teams.   Is a Gafford sized contract what he is going to get?   I have trouble seeing him getting 30 million.  25 million for his role seems quite high too.

Agree... He is good for the MLE or something in that range... My opinion.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Trae Young has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta is working to move Young, who has a $49 million player option in offseason that would make him an expiring contract; or opt out, leave and give Hawks significant cap space.

@BrettSiegelNBA
Trae Young and his camp are essentially telling the Hawks to get this done as soon as possible.

Both Young and McCollum have been ruled out with quad injuries for their respective games tonight.

[Dirknows]

Agree... He is good for the MLE or something in that range... My opinion.

If we could swap out him for Gafford and sign him to a similar contract I’d be all about that. Under this new CBA it appears players that are good but not stars or superstars are the ones getting screwed. Won’t be seeing anymore of the Tobias Harris contracts where role players make 20+

[KillerLeft]

@ShamsCharania
Trae Young has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta is working to move Young, who has a $49 million player option in offseason that would make him an expiring contract; or opt out, leave and give Hawks significant cap space.

In other words, that's who his agents have discovered will play ball on his next contract, WAS, which is one of the few teams desperate enough to do that. Makes sense.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I like Coby White. But I'm also not looking at every potential move in terms of championship potential. I have no desire to turn the TV on and watch the Mavs right now. How bout we get a competent team first? Then a team that is winning 50 games every year. Then we can thinking about Championship moves.

You can move Coby White later if it comes to that. Just like you need to move PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford.