Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DallasMaverick]

It’s one thing to say “Presti’s great, he’ll figure it out somehow.”

It’s another thing to deal with the actual players and payroll.

You can’t just wave a magic wand and keep everyone happy.

The Spurs will be in a similar situation pretty soon. They’ve got lots of good, young players on cheap deals. Better win now, before the salary cap door closes!

[Smitty]

@esidery
The Thunder are likely to exercise Lu Dort’s $17.7 million team option, but immediately shop him in trade discussions this summer for future draft assets.

Moving Dort would open up more long-term opportunities for Cason Wallace, plus provide roster flexibility against the apron.



It's Sidery, but this feels more in-line with what Presti likes to do. I've always thought it was a pipedream to absorb Dort/Caruso into the TPE while GETTING a draft pick.

Question... would you trade a future SRP for Dort into the TPE, on an expiring $17.7M contract, then try to flip him at the TDL to a contender, before he becomes a UFA next summer?

[DanSchwartzgan]

It’s one thing to say “Presti’s great, he’ll figure it out somehow.”

It’s another thing to deal with the actual players and payroll.

You can’t just wave a magic wand and keep everyone happy.

The Spurs will be in a similar situation pretty soon. They’ve got lots of good, young players on cheap deals. Better win now, before the salary cap door closes!

Agreed.  It isn’t just salary, it is salary plus improvement plus role alignment.  They will want to get better and fix their money situation.  Accumulating assets in a smart way isn’t the same thing as what lies ahead.

[windjc]

@esidery
The Thunder are likely to exercise Lu Dort’s $17.7 million team option, but immediately shop him in trade discussions this summer for future draft assets.

Moving Dort would open up more long-term opportunities for Cason Wallace, plus provide roster flexibility against the apron.



It's Sidery, but this feels more in-line with what Presti likes to do. I've always thought it was a pipedream to absorb Dort/Caruso into the TPE while GETTING a draft pick.

Question... would you trade a future SRP for Dort into the TPE, on an expiring $17.7M contract, then try to flip him at the TDL to a contender, before he becomes a UFA next summer?

Yep. Just as I said. They’ll hope someone will overpay for a guy who won’t be as good on the next team he plays for.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

PJW for Wallace+Wiggins adds payroll (+$3.2M) for the Thunder. That feels like the opposite of what they'll want to do this offseason, no?

I know there would be more than just that move for them (mandatory to be a legal trade), but I still don't see the angle there... unless I'm missing something?

I would think they would have no problem finding takers for Isiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins. Both fell out the rotation, and are very good players. Wiggins and Joe had 40pt games off the bench this year, if I remember correctly. Lou Dort is one I also think they could move off of as well.

[F Gump]

I‘m pretty sure Presti will find a way to trade off some players for assets - and not having to add assets to get rid of them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they decline Dort and Hartenstein - or trade one of them to a team with cap room for future assets - and draft their long term cheap successors with 12 and 17.

I mean that’s who Presti is, right?

No doubt that Presti would certainly prefer to get assets instead of just declining TOs and seeing those guys walk. 

But since neither has a bargain-sized option, OKC may be forced into a choice of Keep (in a decline-and-sign move at a lower number) or Lose them in free agency. A trade (unless the other team uses a TPE) just has OKC taking back salary they can't afford. The same in a SNT.  

If either or both get to free agency, my guess is they would each probably be in the MLE basket. The Mavs should have an MLE. Does either of them offer value to the Mavs in such a scenario?

In theory the Mavs have an MLE big enough to be able to accept a decline-sign-and-trade with OKC prior to free agency, skipping the line so to speak, but they would be compensating OKC somehow, and not sure that's worth it (vs just trying to get them as a FA at less money, and taking your chances).

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I expect OKC to extend and promote Cason Wallace into Dort's role.

[F Gump]

I am wondering about the value of Dort in a trade. A team would be giving up 18M in cap room, plus a pick, and Dort is a specialty piece who is an awful shooter and an undersized wing (he's 6-4).

[dirkfansince1998]

I expect OKC to extend and promote Cason Wallace into Dort's role.

More or less what happened in the playoffs. Wallace played more minutes than Dort.

[Chicagojk]

I don't think they would get a pick back for Dort, but I think there would be good teams interested in him at that contract and it being expiring.

[OldMavsFan]

If in the course of constructing some trade you had the choice of getting full control of your own 2028 pick at the cost of the Laker 2029, would you?

Good question and I lean to saying yes, but I the new tanking lottery plan needs to be thought out.  One other is the expansion draft appears likely in a year or two and how that impacts the up and coming drafts, plus you assume that two new teams will in effect be in the lottery for the first couple of years after joining the league.  Finally, I would bet that Thunder will be at least 8 picks worse than the Mavs in 2 more years and after that the Mavs should be moving up in the standings by 2029 draft that there won't be as big change between their own pick and the one.  I understand 1st round picks are important and valuable, but I see them being way over valued on many occasions, especially now that almost all picks are so young and need 2 to 4 years to even make the rotation.

[Smitty]

That was just a trade-match suggestion.  If 17 were added, it helps, but then you have to replace some of these guys in a 2/1 or 3/1 with minimum contracts.  The thing about PJ is he can play the three when JWill misses time.  He can also help as the small-ball 5 when they have injuries there (and they are likely to get thinner there as FG has outlined).  

There are other ways to skin the cat, but Dallas is light on guards and OKC is light up front.  They are trying to win championships today and we are trying to rebuild a roster.  It feels like a good fit.  

I could see putting 9 into the deal and taking on 12 & 17, which helps financially ($7mm vs $10.6 for 12 and 17 combined).  I could also see putting the Laker’s 2029 in a deal (instead of 9) if we got 12/17 and Wallace.  You are right that we won’t likely solve all of OKC’s issues in one deal (though we do have a nice TPE that could help).  But, we probably can’t make it worse in any deal we might do.

I just think it makes more sense for them to move one or two of Dort, Joe, Wiggins, and to a lesser extent Caruso, simply because of his contract (19.5, 21.0, 22.4). 
Those are the 'Guards' that I'd talk about. 

Mitchell and Wallace, age 22 & 23 respectively, were top-6 in minutes played for them this season and Wallace was top-3 in the playoffs. They also have McCain and Topic that are cheaper, young, cost-controlled Guards.


I think you're right to think they'd like a player like PJW for their frontcourt. I don't know what his value would be. I'm higher on him than probably anyone on the board, so I'll leave draft compensation out of the equation. But a trade that makes sense to me is something like:

OKC: PJW + TPE
DAL: Dort or Caruso + I. Joe or Wiggins

This saves them ~$12M and turns the "older" Guards into a cost controlled front court guy. I'd personally pull the trigger if it's Caruso+Joe. Not even sure I need a FRP to do it...

[cow]

I just think it makes more sense for them to move one or two of Dort, Joe, Wiggins, and to a lesser extent Caruso, simply because of his contract (19.5, 21.0, 22.4). 
Those are the 'Guards' that I'd talk about. 

Mitchell and Wallace, age 22 & 23 respectively, were top-6 in minutes played for them this season and Wallace was top-3 in the playoffs. They also have McCain and Topic that are cheaper, young, cost-controlled Guards.


I think you're right to think they'd like a player like PJW for their frontcourt. I don't know what his value would be. I'm higher on him than probably anyone on the board, so I'll leave draft compensation out of the equation. But a trade that makes sense to me is something like:

OKC: PJW + TPE
DAL: Dort or Caruso + I. Joe or Wiggins

This saves them ~$12M and turns the "older" Guards into a cost controlled front court guy. I'd personally pull the trigger if it's Caruso+Joe. Not even sure I need a FRP to do it...

I dunno.  I get they have a lot of financial decisions to make, but keeping Caruso would be a priority.  Without him, that series wouldn't have gone the distance.  I'd love him in a Mavs jersey though.  

I know I'm blinded by my Chet hate, but that is who I'd try to move to retool for phase 2 of their SGA era.

[Knutsen]

I dunno.  I get they have a lot of financial decisions to make, but keeping Caruso would be a priority.  Without him, that series wouldn't have gone the distance.  I'd love him in a Mavs jersey though.  

I know I'm blinded by my Chet hate, but that is who I'd try to move to retool for phase 2 of their SGA era.

Presti won’t sell low - neither on Chet nor on Williams. Let them grow and improve for another year or a year and a half, and maybe then he trades one of them, in a fair trade. 

Exception for me would be if the Bucks would be in love with Chet und you get Giannis for him and one or two picks.

Wouldn’t be a typical move for Presti, but if you reload to defeat Wemby as often as possible in the next years no one gives you a better chance than the Greek Freak, doesn’t he?

[Mavs2021]

@esidery
The Thunder are likely to exercise Lu Dort’s $17.7 million team option, but immediately shop him in trade discussions this summer for future draft assets.

Moving Dort would open up more long-term opportunities for Cason Wallace, plus provide roster flexibility against the apron.



It's Sidery, but this feels more in-line with what Presti likes to do. I've always thought it was a pipedream to absorb Dort/Caruso into the TPE while GETTING a draft pick.

Question... would you trade a future SRP for Dort into the TPE, on an expiring $17.7M contract, then try to flip him at the TDL to a contender, before he becomes a UFA next summer?

How does them exercising the option improve their trade position in negotiations? That does not change much. I´m still asking for a pick for either Dort and Caruso, but it only takes one dumb team to give them an asset. 

They will waive Kenrich Williams and now Hartenstein is their only free way to solve most of their cap issues without cooperation from another team. If they waive him, that also means their whole PF/C rotation next year becomes injury-prone Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, a rookie Sorber and maybe some more rookies.

[Smitty]

How does them exercising the option improve their trade position in negotiations? That does not change much. I´m still asking for a pick for either Dort and Caruso, but it only takes one dumb team to give them an asset. 

They wouldn’t pick up Dorts option if they had to give up a pick to then dump him… They will know if he has positive trade value before the option deadline on 6/29. OR they simply want to keep him… The idea that you’ll get a draft pick for “taking” Dorts exercised expiring contract is not even worth talking about IMO.

I feel the same for Caruso. Yes he’s older and having his money off their books the next 3 seasons will help them pay the younger guards, but what might be a negative situation for OKC doesn’t mean it’s one for the 29 other teams. Someone, many someone’s, will see Caruso as a positive asset and really good player, and will give “something”, even if we think it’s a bad idea to ‘help’ the Thunder. 

Other GM’s have to help their own team, not worry about what OKC’s doing.

[windjc]

They wouldn’t pick up Dorts option if they had to give up a pick to then dump him… They will know if he has positive trade value before the option deadline on 6/29. OR they simply want to keep him… The idea that you’ll get a draft pick for “taking” Dorts exercised expiring contract is not even worth talking about IMO.

I feel the same for Caruso. Yes he’s older and having his money off their books the next 3 seasons will help them pay the younger guards, but what might be a negative situation for OKC doesn’t mean it’s one for the 29 other teams. Someone, many someone’s, will see Caruso as a positive asset and really good player, and will give “something”, even if we think it’s a bad idea to ‘help’ the Thunder. 

Other GM’s have to help their own team, not worry about what OKC’s doing.

I don’t know. Seems like everyone on here is all they do is worry about what OKC might do.

[Winter]

I don’t know. Seems like everyone on here is all they do is worry about what OKC might do.

It seems like all you do is worry about what the board does.

[DanSchwartzgan]

PJW for Wallace+Wiggins adds payroll (+$3.2M) for the Thunder. That feels like the opposite of what they'll want to do this offseason, no?

How about PJ for Wiggins and Joe ($20.5mm combined vs $19.8mm for PJ) and #12.  It saves OKC about $6.5mm and converts some guard wealth (that wasn’t nearly as good as McCain, Caruso and Wallace…not to mention Mitchell and Topic) into needed help on the wing.  

For Dallas, Joe is sweet shooting guard depth and Wiggins fills the needed salary with the main point being to get #12.  Draft your guard at 9 and add Morez Johnson or Lopez or Carr at 12.

[mvossman]

How about PJ for Wiggins and Joe ($20.5mm combined vs $19.8mm for PJ) and #12.  It saves OKC about $6.5mm and converts some guard wealth (that wasn’t nearly as good as McCain, Caruso and Wallace…not to mention Mitchell and Topic) into needed help on the wing.  

For Dallas, Joe is sweet shooting guard depth and Wiggins fills the needed salary with the main point being to get #12.  Draft your guard at 9 and add Morez Johnson or Lopez or Carr at 12.

Don't think PJ is worth #12.  I doubt he is worth #17.  I would love something like this though.  Coming out of this draft with one of the guards and Morez would be best case scenario.