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

[FireNicoHarrison]

Giannis to the Lakers for Reaves.

Then 2026 #1 pick to the Bucks.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I wonder if Giannis would be resistant to playing in the stacked West. Otherwise, I'd love to see him and Steph together.

[MaxiThreeba]

Let's get crazy and get some of our picks back

- AD to the Raptors for CMB, Barrett and that awful Poeltl contract plus picks
- Barrett is rerouted to Pistons for Tobias and pick(s), pray the Pistons value another scorer
- Send some combo of the Raps/Pistons picks to OKC for our 2028 as part of the deal

- Naji to Hornets
- Connaughton and our 2027 pick back

- Ship out Gafford for some value

- Get Klay to a contender somehow

Probable that none of this is legal and definite that none of it will happen. I just really don't feel like working today!

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Let's get crazy and get some of our picks back

- AD to the Raptors for CMB, Barrett and that awful Poeltl contract plus picks
- Barrett is rerouted to Pistons for Tobias and pick(s), pray the Pistons value another scorer
- Send some combo of the Raps/Pistons picks to OKC for our 2028 as part of the deal

- Naji to Hornets
- Connaughton and our 2027 pick back

- Ship out Gafford for some value

- Get Klay to a contender somehow

Probable that none of this is legal and definite that none of it will happen.  I just really don't feel like working today!

So you want to trade all of assets and only get llate 1sts from the Raptors and Pistons, while also taking on the worst contract in the NBA in Poertl?

And the Hornets can keep that pick as the 2027 Draft is supposed to be awful. 

We gotta get more than that.

[Dirknows]

So you want to trade all of assets and only get llate 1sts from the Raptors and Pistons, while also taking on the worst contract in the NBA in Poertl?

And the Hornets can keep that pick as the 2027 Draft is supposed to be awful. 

We gotta get more than that.

Whether it’s our pick or another pick, I’d like to get a 2027 pick so we have a pick in every draft. Regardless of how weak a draft is perceived there are almost always decent players somewhere. Plus got to try and keep the team stocked with young talent.

[omahen]

Some louder and louder rumors about Lakers and Cleveland discussing a trade. Hunter to Lakers and Rui and Knecht to Cleveland. Due to all the cap limitations between the two teams, there has to be additional pieces and a third team involved to make it legal. I guess another Lakers expiring contract (Maxi or Vincent) to a team like Brooklyn and another player or two going to LA.

Hunter is a nice player having a bad season. Not really sure about his Lakers fit, especially this season with three stars doing most of shooting (when healthy). Could be a nice piece next to Luka and Reaves next season, if LeBron is no longer around. Still, I sort of like Rui and his elite shooting better as I am not sure that Hunter is a significantly better defender. Also pretty big red flag that he couldn't keep the starting spot in Cleveland rotation (actually lost it to a 2-way guy). Rui on the other hand, could be really nice addition to Cleveland rotation.

If they make this move, Lakers would spend a good chunk of their cap space for next season, signaling sort of a change of direction. They could still operate with some 25 mil of cap space, depending on what other salaries would be included. Cleveland clears a bunch of salary for next season and is now positioned to be under the second apron, assuming they don't resign Rui.

The answers to who the third team will be, who will pay them to play along and what player goes to LA will determine the quality of this trade.

[Nowitzki Way]

Some louder and louder rumors about Lakers and Cleveland discussing a trade. Hunter to Lakers and Rui and Knecht to Cleveland. Due to all the cap limitations between the two teams, there has to be additional pieces and a third team involved to make it legal. I guess another Lakers expiring contract (Maxi or Vincent) to a team like Brooklyn and another player or two going to LA.

Hunter is a nice player having a bad season. Not really sure about his Lakers fit, especially this season with three stars doing most of shooting (when healthy). Could be a nice piece next to Luka and Reaves next season, if LeBron is no longer around. Still, I sort of like Rui and his elite shooting better as I am not sure that Hunter is a significantly better defender. Also pretty big red flag that he couldn't keep the starting spot in Cleveland rotation (actually lost it to a 2-way guy). Rui on the other hand, could be really nice addition to Cleveland rotation.

If they make this move, Lakers would spend a good chunk of their cap space for next season, signaling sort of a change of direction. They could still operate with some 25 mil of cap space, depending on what other salaries would be included. Cleveland clears a bunch of salary for next season and is now positioned to be under the second apron, assuming they don't resign Rui.

The answers to who the third team will be, who will pay them to play along and what player goes to LA will determine the quality of this trade.

I think this is a no brainer for Cleveland, not sure what the Lakers are thinking.  They lose some shooting going from Rui to Hunter.   And add that extra salary for next year. 

I do hope some dominoes start falling and we get some trades. But i'm afraid this Giannis thing going to the buzzer is going to hold the whole league hostage.  Maybe some teams will know they're out on Giannis and start to pivot.

[omahen]

I think this is a no brainer for Cleveland, not sure what the Lakers are thinking.  They lose some shooting going from Rui to Hunter.   And add that extra salary for next year. 

I do hope some dominoes start falling and we get some trades. But i'm afraid this Giannis thing going to the buzzer is going to hold the whole league hostage.  Maybe some teams will know they're out on Giannis and start to pivot.

Totally agree. I would be really mad if Lakers would be paying assets to make this trade happen. I think Cleveland is clearly winning the trade looking at just the three known pieces in Rui, Knecht and Hunter. While Cleveland could trade their 2031 FRP, I don't think this is on the table. They have several SRP though. If Lakers can get another rotation player, another wing, I would be satisfied with the trade. Washington could facilitate the trade and I really like "the other" Champagne brother as a buy low option. BKN has Highsmith who is also interesting. Ellis from Sacramento would be a great fit for Lakers (the three team deal is legal if Sacramento adds dead body of Saric)

[Nowitzki Way]

Totally agree. I would be really mad if Lakers would be paying assets to make this trade happen. I think Cleveland is clearly winning the trade looking at just the three known pieces in Rui, Knecht and Hunter. While Cleveland could trade their 2031 FRP, I don't think this is on the table. They have several SRP though. If Lakers can get another rotation player, another wing, I would be satisfied with the trade. Washington could facilitate the trade and I really like "the other" Champagne brother as a buy low option. BKN has Highsmith who is also interesting. Ellis from Sacramento would be a great fit for Lakers (the three team deal is legal if Sacramento adds dead body of Saric)

Reading all the tea leaves, i'm wondering if Ellis isnt one of the first trades to go down. Makes even more sense if he's thrown into the Cle/LAL trade.

I know it may be sinful to root for the Lakers, but i want Luka to have the right pieces around him and be successful. He's so much fun to watch.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Let's say the Mavs landed the 3rd pick in the Draft and Peterson was gone. Then you get the remainder of either Boozer or Dybantsa.. Then, suddenly the phone rings and it's Charlotte offering Kneppel for the 3rd pick. Do you make that trade?

[Winter]

Let's say the Mavs landed the 3rd pick in the Draft and Peterson and either Boozer or Dybantsa were gone. Then, suddenly the phone rings and it's Charlotte offering Kneppel for the 3rd pick. Do you make that trade?

I do. Kon is a known commodity now, and fits the Mavs needs.

Draft picks are a gamble.

[Nowitzki Way]

Let's say the Mavs landed the 3rd pick in the Draft and Peterson was gone. Then you get the remainder of either Boozer or Dybantsa.. Then, suddenly the phone rings and it's Charlotte offering Kneppel for the 3rd pick. Do you make that trade?

I take Dybantsa.  But Kon/Cooper is a fun combo to think about.

[KillerLeft]

Let's say the Mavs landed the 3rd pick in the Draft and Peterson was gone. Then you get the remainder of either Boozer or Dybantsa.. Then, suddenly the phone rings and it's Charlotte offering Kneppel for the 3rd pick. Do you make that trade?

If the Mavs get the 3rd pick, I'm trading up a spot to get Peterson, if that's what it takes.

[F Gump]

While the money is low, getting under the tax line will probably cost something. Majority of good teams are extremely close to one of the aprons or hard caps and can't really take more money. Tanking teams that have cap space will want something. So, assuming no bigger trade happens:.

" getting under the tax line will probably cost something" -- Thanks for your thoughts.

I think the idea this could come at a cost could be true, but .... 

But the amount needed is small enough where I think the avenue taken by one or more might instead just be a regular trade, with a minor disparity between outgoing and incoming, rather than looking for a team to take a salary dump. No pick needed. That mean this tax line issue might be a trigger for one or more of those 3 teams (DEN PHX TOR) to do a somewhat bigger, non "salary-dump" trade. For example, I haven't seen anyone mention it, but I think that's what's driving the regular mention of teams wanting Missi - it's not him so much, but rather that he is somewhat playable, he has a small salary, and NO has some room to take back about 2.5M more than they send out. But it certainly works with bigger salary players being swapped too.

[F Gump]

If the Mavs get the 3rd pick, I'm trading up a spot to get Peterson, if that's what it takes.

I don't think that would be an option. I believe whoever gets the chance to pick P will pick him and not be willing to entertain offers for the pick. There's a significant gap (at least in perception) separating him from Boozer and Dy. 

The question is whether Kon is now on the level of Boozer / Dy. I suspect he is. I don't think CHAR would make that trade -- would either Boozer or Dy be a better fit for them than his shooting? Speaking of CHAR, what is it they need in the draft or as a FA? A much better SG, maybe? They have a lot of talent, it feels like.

[Winter]

From HoopsRumors

"Reiterating a point he previously made, Fedor says the Cavs are eyeing Mavericks forward Naji Marshall. The framework would involve Ball and unspecified draft assets being sent to Dallas, though Fedor points out that Marshall has drawn interest from multiple teams. It’s also unclear if the Cavs would be willing to part with their lone tradable first-round pick (either 2031 or 2032) for a role player, even a quality one like Marshall."

[omahen]

From HoopsRumors

"Reiterating a point he previously made, Fedor says the Cavs are eyeing Mavericks forward Naji Marshall. The framework would involve Ball and unspecified draft assets being sent to Dallas, though Fedor points out that Marshall has drawn interest from multiple teams. It’s also unclear if the Cavs would be willing to part with their lone tradable first-round pick (either 2031 or 2032) for a role player, even a quality one like Marshall."

This would also need to be part of a bigger trade, as neither team can take back more salary than sending out, if I am not wrong.

[Winter]

This would also need to be part of a bigger trade, as neither team can take back more salary than sending out, if I am not wrong.

I don't think you're wrong. It sounds more like part of a trade. It sounds like Naji and players unspecified coming out from the Mavs side and Ball and picks inbound. Or perhaps something slightly larger that includes Hunter (whom they've been trying to move)

[Mavs2021]

This would also need to be part of a bigger trade, as neither team can take back more salary than sending out, if I am not wrong.

It actually looks like it works straight up, since the Mavs would stay 160k under the 2nd apron. I guess the pick being 2031 earliest is not very appealing to the Mavs. Also have to assume the Cavs still want to put protections on it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Speaking of Lonzo, is his career over after this season?