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

[Winter]

Thanks for the explanation.

Personally AD is not on any future wish list of mine at that price, and swapping for talent always seems to take longer than I wish.... but I get the logic.

[soog]

"to create a team around AD and Flagg" -- I'm not sure what makes you think I was suggesting everyone gets traded, other than AD, where they start over. I'm close to the polar opposite of that, in fact. 

Here's my pov. REALLY GOOD TALENT is hard to acquire, and getting a roster that has a lot of it is a long hard exercise. The Mavs imo have already done the hard part. They have a LOT of really good talent. They just don't have the right mix in that talent.  

So swap talent for talent, not for air. Yes, pick up extra picks when you can. (Presti, please.)

Yes, do what you can to get rid of bad contracts that Nico saddled them with (Hardy, Martin, DAR) - while keeping in mind to not pay a high price to fix that, because even bad deals will expire eventually if you can't find a quicker solution. But the goal is to always end with more talent, not less. 
.... In that vein, I don't sell my best talent (AD) to fix the problem of too much payroll from having bad contracts on the roster. If they didn't have Hardy, Martin, DAR clogging their cap, they wouldn't even be a taxpayer! Keep the good talent itself (or swap it for similar talent), and look for ways to get rid of the bad clogs (perhaps as you do so). Nico was really EXTREMELY bad at cap planning and management, as well as lots of other skills, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Let me add that I am not a "timelines" guy. It's about who is talented and fits to make the team better. Work to win, and keep winning, and adjust your roster as you go, a piece or two at a time, talent-for-talent when needed, rather than try to be all youngsters or all veterans. You won't have the same roster in 4-5 years anyhow, no matter what you do.

That's what I would do. An expert GM is the guy to do it.

I agree with this and I’d add one more. 

Trade talent for talent. Don’t trade for air. Don’t trade for hopes and dreams.

I’d be interested to see a hit rate on draft picks. How many guys drafted at #20 meaningfully contribute to a team during their career and for how long do they do add value?

If Atl offers anything other than the NOP pick I walk. I’ll take my chances with AD, rather than the hope I hit on a couple of later first rounders, which is fairly unlikely.

[mvossman]

I agree with this and I’d add one more. 

Trade talent for talent. Don’t trade for air. Don’t trade for hopes and dreams.

I’d be interested to see a hit rate on draft picks. How many guys drafted at #20 meaningfully contribute to a team during their career and for how long do they do add value?

If Atl offers anything other than the NOP pick I walk. I’ll take my chances with AD, rather than the hope I hit on a couple of later first rounders, which is fairly unlikely.

Nobody is going to trade younger, cheaper, healthier AD talent for AD.  If you are waiting for that then he will be on this roster until his contract is up, at which point he will become "air".

[soog]

Nobody is going to trade younger, cheaper, healthier AD talent for AD.  If you are waiting for that then he will be on this roster until his contract is up, at which point he will become "air".

Then let’s wait and see what the team looks like with Kyrie and AD back. I continue to say that you don’t solve one bad decision by making another bad decision. Or as mamma said “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

[mvossman]

Then let’s wait and see what the team looks like with Kyrie and AD back. I continue to say that you don’t solve one bad decision by making another bad decision. Or as mamma said “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Yeah, we just disagree on what the bad decision would be.

[Tyler]

So how much longer can we go without the Trae deal becoming official before people start asking questions?

[loki]

So how much longer can we go without the Trae deal becoming official before people start asking questions?

I've seen enough. He's gay.

[F Gump]

So how much longer can we go without the Trae deal becoming official before people start asking questions?

Is the Trae deal still not official?

[F Gump]

Nobody is going to trade younger, cheaper, healthier AD talent for AD.  If you are waiting for that then he will be on this roster until his contract is up, at which point he will become "air".

In fact, that trade happens over and over - it's just not as well-defined or certain (nor did I say it would be) as you have chosen to describe it. 

*One team wants the finished product, whose ability and production is already known, and there's no waiting for him to be developed. He's already been doing it.
*The other team is willing to roll the dice on a player who might turn out to be as good, or even better, but he certainly is no sure thing and will have to develop further. No idea how long it will take, either. As a future draft pick, you don't even know who that player will be, further clouding what might lay ahead.

Both teams are taking a chance that the road ahead with the guy they are getting will go according to plan. But in theory, it's Today's Star (who you think and hope has plenty of years ahead at a high level, but...) for Tomorrow's (with tomorrow's arrival date probably being 3-5 years down the road ...and maybe more ...or maybe never).

In any event, of course I'm not getting a surefire AD-to-be, but I want a player (or a shot at one) who has some high-level upside if all goes well. 

And if you don't give me a reasonable chance to end up somewhere down the road with a player of AD's caliber (once he's been developed and grows), if all goes well, I am really not interested enough to pull the trigger. Maybe explore what's out there from some other team. Maybe I keep him. That doesn't scare me.

[omahen]

In fact, that trade happens over and over - it's just not as well-defined or certain (nor did I say it would be) as you have chosen to describe it. 

*One team wants the finished product, whose ability and production is already known, and there's no waiting for him to be developed. He's already been doing it.
*The other team is willing to roll the dice on a player who might turn out to be as good, or even better, but he certainly is no sure thing and will have to develop further. No idea how long it will take, either. As a future draft pick, you don't even know who that player will be, further clouding what might lay ahead.

Both teams are taking a chance that the road ahead with the guy they are getting will go according to plan. But in theory, it's Today's Star (who you think and hope has plenty of years ahead at a high level, but...) for Tomorrow's (with tomorrow's arrival date probably being 3-5 years down the road ...and maybe more ...or maybe never).

In any event, of course I'm not getting a surefire AD-to-be, but I want a player (or a shot at one) who has some high-level upside if all goes well. 

And if you don't give me a reasonable chance to end up somewhere down the road with a player of AD's caliber (once he's been developed and grows), if all goes well, I am really not interested enough to pull the trigger. Maybe explore what's out there from some other team. Maybe I keep him. That doesn't scare me.

Risacher in all aspects fits your description. You personally might not like him, but others might have different opinion. It certainly looks like Mavs have interest in him.

[F Gump]

Risacher in all aspects fits your description. You personally might not like him, but others might have different opinion. It certainly looks like Mavs have interest in him.

Perhaps, but it's just as likely the focus on R was just another way of saying they didn't want Trae. Once Trae is out of the equation, R - in a pkg w KP/Kennard - is a necessity, to satisfy the trade match (since they make their higher salaries all off limits). 

I don't know of anyone who sees R as having star potential. Do you? 

Make it JJ and now you're talking.

[Dirknows]

Can AD even stay healthy long enough to be traded is honestly the question.

[Chicagojk]

Can AD even stay healthy long enough to be traded is honestly the question.

There was a play before that when Cooper drove and was fouled and fell down.   I only saw the replay once but it looks like AD got caught by a snipers bullet and fell down.   I don't even think Cooper barely touched him.   When I saw that, I think I am close to saying he is never going to be healthy for long stretches.   3-4 times a game it looks like he has a serious injury just by falling down.

[Smitty]

I've been pretty focused on Atlanta, like most, with all the reporting the last few days. BUT there's been enough people in the media that keep throwing Toronto out there. I tried to do a deeper dive and see what the BEST package is that they could offer. One that could make the Hawks give in and offer the more premium assets like the NOP FRP. This is what I came up with:

DAL: Immanuel Quickley ($32.5M), RJ Barrett ($27.7M), Collin Murray-Boyles ($6.3M), '27 FRP, '28 FRP Swap, '29 FRP, '30 FRP Swap
TOR: Anthony Davis ($54.1M), Caleb Martin ($9.5M), D'Angelo Russell ($5.6M), Dante Exum ($2.2M)

As for the 'pick package', you can do whatever your heart desires there, as they have all their picks. I chose to do it this way because the Mavs don't have a FRP in '27 and they have bad swaps already owed to OKC and SAS in '28 & '30. This move pretty much solves a lot of the headache there.

The 'player package' is not ideal to me. 2 very overpaid 'good' players and CMB, the 9th pick in this past draft.

Quickley is the tough pill to swallow. He'll make $32.5M the next 3.5 years and isn't a great fit with Kyrie, making him the highest paid 6th man in the league, if he were a Mav.

RJ has one more year left on his deal ($29.6M). He's extension eligible after seasons end. The Raptors and him couldn't agree this past cycle. Obviously, he's going to want an even bigger contract, and he's already overpaid IMO. I don't mind his potential fit with Flagg on the basketball court, but the contract stuff is a big no for me, so I just see him as an expiring contract to trade again next year.

CMB is playing 20 MPG now for the Raptors and has flashed some good things as a rookie. He's another PF though, where the Mavs are pretty deep at the moment. The Raptors probably don't want to include him in a deal I'd imagine. I'm simply coming up with what I believe to be the Raptors best AD trade package.

Don't just skip by the fact that the Mavs also get rid of two bad contracts/players in this deal with Martin and DLO off the books. Exum had to be included to make the trade legal. It frees up a roster spot for Dallas also, while keeping TOR $371K below the Apron.

The Mavs say they want future financial flexibility [expirings], young player(s), and pick(s) in an AD trade. This checks 2 of those boxes...

[Dirknows]

I've been pretty focused on Atlanta, like most, with all the reporting the last few days. BUT there's been enough people in the media that keep throwing Toronto out there. I tried to do a deeper dive and see what the BEST package is that they could offer. One that could make the Hawks give in and offer the more premium assets like the NOP FRP. This is what I came up with:

DAL: Immanuel Quickley ($32.5M), RJ Barrett ($27.7M), Collin Murray-Boyles ($6.3M), '27 FRP, '28 FRP Swap, '29 FRP, '30 FRP Swap
TOR: Anthony Davis ($54.1M), Caleb Martin ($9.5M), D'Angelo Russell ($5.6M), Dante Exum ($2.2M)

As for the 'pick package', you can do whatever your heart desires there, as they have all their picks. I chose to do it this way because the Mavs don't have a FRP in '27 and they have bad swaps already owed to OKC and SAS in '28 & '30. This move pretty much solves a lot of the headache there.

The 'player package' is not ideal to me. 2 very overpaid 'good' players and CMB, the 9th pick in this past draft.

Quickley is the tough pill to swallow. He'll make $32.5M the next 3.5 years and isn't a great fit with Kyrie, making him the highest paid 6th man in the league, if he were a Mav.

RJ has one more year left on his deal ($29.6M). He's extension eligible after seasons end. The Raptors and him couldn't agree this past cycle. Obviously, he's going to want an even bigger contract, and he's already overpaid IMO. I don't mind his potential fit with Flagg on the basketball court, but the contract stuff is a big no for me, so I just see him as an expiring contract to trade again next year.

CMB is playing 20 MPG now for the Raptors and has flashed some good things as a rookie. He's another PF though, where the Mavs are pretty deep at the moment. The Raptors probably don't want to include him in a deal I'd imagine. I'm simply coming up with what I believe to be the Raptors best AD trade package.

Don't just skip by the fact that the Mavs also get rid of two bad contracts/players in this deal with Martin and DLO off the books. Exum had to be included to make the trade legal. It frees up a roster spot for Dallas also, while keeping TOR $371K below the Apron.

The Mavs say they want future financial flexibility [expirings], young player(s), and pick(s) in an AD trade. This checks 2 of those boxes...

I thought of a similar idea from Toronto, but I think CMB is probably close to untouchable to them, they just inserted him in the starting lineup. However, we know Toronto will go all in if it gives them a shot to win it all. This is the “picks” centered package, and honestly that might be too many picks to give up for AD.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Yes this is real package for street clothes.. don't trust all the smokescreens about a "return like Trae". Bullshit.

[Tyler]

Is the Trae deal still not official?

It wasn't as of last night. Looks like it is finally happening this morning. 

https://x.com/JakeLFischer/status/2009636601052401738

Jake Fischer
@JakeLFischer
The trade call is set for 10 a.m. ET this morning, according to a league source.

[Smitty]

This is the “picks” centered package, and honestly that might be too many picks to give up for AD.

I think I agree. I was just presenting the best package I could come up with. I could see the '29 FPR and/or the '30 Swap being taken out, and I still might consider it. I just don't love the player package. I also don't know if TOR would love it. It's not as easy to see the benefit for both sides, like it is for the Mavs and Atlanta.

Raptors depth chart after this hypothetical:

DLO | Shead | Exum (maybe you trade B-Will in the deal instead) 
Walter | Agbaji
Ingram | Dick | Martin
Barnes | (Davis) | Battle
Davis | Poeltl | Sandro


Mavs roster after this hypothetical:

Kyrie | Quickley | Nembhard | B-Will or Exum
Max | Klay | Hardy
Barrett | Naji | Kelly*
Flagg | PJW | CMB
Gafford | Lively | Powell | Cisse*

[SweetFidelia]

I thought of a similar idea from Toronto, but I think CMB is probably close to untouchable to them, they just inserted him in the starting lineup. However, we know Toronto will go all in if it gives them a shot to win it all. This is the “picks” centered package, and honestly that might be too many picks to give up for AD.

Agree on CMB. I don’t think there is an appetizing deal with TOR. My guess is their offer would be Poeltl, Barrett, Agbaji, and picks. I don’t think there is any chance the #4 seed would trade their starting PG and SG. Right now, they still need Quickley badly. Poeltl has an AWFUL contract that goes through 2030, and the massive extension doesn’t start until ‘27. Yuck. Barrett could be flipped to someone else. He wants a massive extension. No thanks. Mavs would have to release players…..I think Tor would have to get someone else involved and pay through the nose to make it work. I’d have to have their ‘26, ‘28, and ‘30 1sts at minimum, and their ‘26 pick won’t be very good. I’m in the “trade AD for just about anything” camp; however, this is one I’d actually just rather have AD.

[omahen]

Perhaps, but it's just as likely the focus on R was just another way of saying they didn't want Trae. Once Trae is out of the equation, R - in a pkg w KP/Kennard - is a necessity, to satisfy the trade match (since they make their higher salaries all off limits). 

I don't know of anyone who sees R as having star potential. Do you? 

Make it JJ and now you're talking.

Show me a team that will offer a JJ level player for AD. He is arguably a better and obviously a much younger player than him on a very reasonable cost controlled contract for four more seasons. Teams that will trade for AD will want to become instant contenders. You don't become that by trading your best player. Everything you are saying points that your preference is to keep Davis. Agree to disagree that this is the right strategy for Mavs. 

At the moment it looks like the ceiling for Risacher is a top level role player. Is that really something bad to have next to Flagg? Lively-Flagg-Risacher-Max is a very good young core. Cost controlled for next season before extensions for Max and Lively will need to be made. Although these two will probably not demand much higher money than TE (if at all). Another season before ZR extension time comes.