Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Tim Bontemps: "Isaiah Hartenstein has this $28.5 million team option and I would say of those three guys, he is the most likely guy to be back. However, I would guess that what will end up happening there is he will sign a longer-term deal for a lower number because the Thunder have some ability to handle those negotiations with that team option and get Hartenstein some longer-term money and also lower their bill for this upcoming season."

YouTube

[Scott41theMavs]

(wrong thread/duplicate)

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal.

[omahen]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal.

Really happy for him and he is a great story. But, that is imho a lot for a smallish SG. I would expect Goodwin gets a similar deal and that alone would put Phoenix up to the first apron. It really seems like they will not resign Mark Williams.

[F Gump]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal.

Rats. He was on my list of PG players who can pass, shoot 3s, and defend, and that could be good value with the MLE (and he will be signing for far less, with a deal apparently starting at about $10.0M)

[KillerLeft]

One thing I'm cautiously allowing myself to get my hopes up for: I think the Mavs are going to use that $20 million TPE, or at least part of it. They're very likely to operate as an over the cap BUT under the tax team (so full MLE), and they are FAR from the tax line, so if there was ever a time when a TPE was actually valuable, this is it.

We've discussed ways in which this could be utilized on draft night, which is certainly possible, but if not, there will be loads of other ways to leverage it for the benefit of the team. Maybe this 2nd apron hell teams are experiencing is finally "nuclear winter" enough for a good player to be jettisoned for next to nothing? As we saw with the AD trade, getting salary off your books IMMEDIATELY, with no strings attached, carries a certain value in the league right now.

In lieu of that, there's always the tried and true "we'll eat that awful contract mistake you made in exchange for ____ promising rookie contract and/or ____ future 1sts." That's basically what we've discussed as a draft night possibility, but it's a button that I believe will be able to push in free agency if the draft is uneventful.

I really can't come up with an excuse for the team not to use it, honestly.

[DanSchwartzgan]

One thing I'm cautiously allowing myself to get my hopes up for: I think the Mavs are going to use that $20 million TPE, or at least part of it. They're very likely to operate as an over the cap BUT under the tax team (so full MLE), and they are FAR from the tax line, so if there was ever a time when a TPE was actually valuable, this is it.
 

The way I like to think of this is we have an opportunity to fill a $38mm hole with salary.  I'm not married to any one way of doing it.  It can be taking back 25% more salary in a trade.  It can be MLE/BAE signings or trades into any of our exceptions.

Bear in mind also that it doesn't all have to happen this summer.  You could fill up the first $17mm of the hole and leave the TPE not only available for later, but you could also leave room to use it under the tax.  Conversely, you could use the TPE this summer and stay about $15mm under the tax so that you can use the MLE (or part of it) later.

In other words, I'd probably expect them to leave themselves some room under the tax.  Many have said the TDL is the better time to trade Kyrie.  It probably makes some sense to anticipate what you might take back in such a deal and plan for it.

[KillerLeft]

The way I like to think of this is we have an opportunity to fill a $38mm hole with salary.  I'm not married to any one way of doing it.  It can be taking back 25% more salary in a trade.  It can be MLE/BAE signings or trades into any of our exceptions.

Bear in mind also that it doesn't all have to happen this summer.  You could fill up the first $17mm of the hole and leave the TPE not only available for later, but you could also leave room to use it under the tax.  Conversely, you could use the TPE this summer and stay about $15mm under the tax so that you can use the MLE (or part of it) later.

In other words, I'd probably expect them to leave themselves some room under the tax.  Many have said the TDL is the better time to trade Kyrie.  It probably makes some sense to anticipate what you might take back in such a deal and plan for it.

Sure, I'm with you. I just mean it's nice to have a TPE we can dream with, for once.

[DallasMaverick]

The way I like to think of this is we have an opportunity to fill a $38mm hole with salary.  I'm not married to any one way of doing it.  It can be taking back 25% more salary in a trade.  It can be MLE/BAE signings or trades into any of our exceptions.

Bear in mind also that it doesn't all have to happen this summer.  You could fill up the first $17mm of the hole and leave the TPE not only available for later, but you could also leave room to use it under the tax.  Conversely, you could use the TPE this summer and stay about $15mm under the tax so that you can use the MLE (or part of it) later.

In other words, I'd probably expect them to leave themselves some room under the tax.  Many have said the TDL is the better time to trade Kyrie.  It probably makes some sense to anticipate what you might take back in such a deal and plan for it.

Consistent with a “win before Cooper gets expensive” philosophy.

[loki]

With the Denver Nuggets currently projected to be near the second apron, they’ve signaled a willingness to discuss forward Zeke Nnaji and the No. 26 pick as a trade package, league sources told HoopsHype.

Nnaji is owed $7.47 million for the 2026-27 season and has a $7.47 million player option for the 2027-28 season.

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/n...632332007/

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum has agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a trade kicker, agent Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management tells ESPN. McCollum has been eligible for an extension until June 30 and commits to a new deal that keeps him out of free agency, a contract extension with the franchise, plus a trade kicker, agent Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management tells ESPN. One note (that likely will not matter) on CJ McCollum's contract being an extension vs a new deal: He's immediately trade-eligible with no waiting period once he's signed. A new contract signed in July would have come with a December 15 trade restriction. If the Hawks choose to stay over the cap with C.J. McCollum on the books, Atlanta should still be able to use the full $15M Non-Taxpayer MLE. That'll be an important tool to help the Hawks round out their depth, especially in the frontcourt. CJ McCollum has a 7.5% trade kicker in his one-year, $21 million extension to stay with Atlanta, per source.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: Free agent guard Jordan Goodwin intends to sign a three-year, $19 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, with a player option in the third season, sources tell ESPN. Goodwin made the Suns roster out of training camp on a non-guaranteed contract and emerged as a key reserve and culture fit, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a team-high 106 total steals. In consecutive days, the Suns land multiyear agreements to keep two young guards in Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, whom the franchise developed over the last year. Goodwin's agents at Klutch Sports, Shy Saee and Mike George, landed the deal Sunday, a week after free agents became eligible to negotiate with their own teams. Next order of business for the Suns: retaining restricted free agent Mark Williams.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Lakers have been linked to all sorts of veteran big men in the forthcoming free agent market as well. They could emerge as a suitor for the Knicks' Mitchell Robinson and the Trail Blazers' Robert Williams III, although sources say both players are very open to remaining in their incumbent roles with the Knicks and Blazers. I'm also told that the Lakers have called the Thunder about swingman Lu Dort's availability.

marcstein.substack.com

[SleepingHero]

Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass)
The Lakers are “on the clock” with Luka Doncic, per @DanWoikeSports

“I think there’s an actual threat that he could have a wandering eye if the Lakers can’t deliver on the plans they presented last summer.”

[SleepingHero]

Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass)
The Lakers are “on the clock” with Luka Doncic, per @DanWoikeSports

“I think there’s an actual threat that he could have a wandering eye if the Lakers can’t deliver on the plans they presented last summer.”

Call me crazy, but I think a homecoming can actually happen.

Especially if the Mavs don't tear down the entire roster this year and keep enough space open. We still have the finals roster basically, just added Flagg.

[cow]

Call me crazy, but I think a homecoming can actually happen.

Especially if the Mavs don't tear down the entire roster this year and keep enough space open. We still have the finals roster basically, just added Flagg.

I don't really see Luka coming back to Dallas, just too much hurt and not enough distance, plus their is a key cog still in place that allowed that to happen.  If the Nuggets salary cap situation weren't such a mess, I could see him trying to team up with his good buddy.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Timberwolves have gauged the trade value of Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and their No. 28 first-round pick in the draft, league sources told HoopsHype.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

After trading for Ayo Dosunmu at the deadline, the Minnesota Timberwolves want to re-sign him. According to NBA executives who’ve spoken with Hoops Hype, Dosunmu’s range is projected to be somewhere north of $18 million annually and could reach the low $20 million range. Other teams have always called on rising swingman Jaden McDaniels. Minnesota has made him essentially untradable unless it was for a blockbuster trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic. When the Los Angeles Clippers were struggling earlier this season amid a 6-21 start and gauging the trade market for Kawhi Leonard and James Harden each, the Clippers poked around on McDaniels, but were rebuffed, Hoops Hype has learned

HoopsHype

[HoosierDaddyKid]

While the contract of Isaac gives Orlando flexibility to shed salary or use as a potential trade chip, the immediacy of Black’s extension talks will be interesting following Jalen Suggs getting a five-year, $150 million extension, and with Black having comparable statistics to Suggs last season. NBA executives across the league believe Orlando will eventually have to choose between keeping Suggs or Black on the roster long-term due to their incoming salary cap situation.

HoopsHype

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Toronto Raptors swingman RJ Barrett has drawn trade interest in multi-team conversations, league sources told HoopsHype. The Canadian swingman is on an expiring $29.62 million contract this upcoming season. He’s averaged 20.5 points on 49.5 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent beyond the arc with 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists since joining his hometown Raptors.

HoopsHype