Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Mavs2021]

Yields a $40.7mm TPE...large enought to absorb Kyrie (just saying).  Charlotte has a huge pick inventory now.

Kyrie  for Steinbach and Anderson?



That´s the first trade destination that makes some sense from a returning assets standpoint. Teams like Houston or Minnesota were not willing or had any interesting young pieces to trade. A Kyrie trade only makes sense as a total change of direction. He´s expiring in 12 months and I doubt he´d stay in Charlotte therefore also not very realistic imho.

[Smitty]

Yields a $40.7mm TPE...large enought to absorb Kyrie (just saying).  Charlotte has a huge pick inventory now.

If Masai's first big trade is sending Kyrie to Charlotte, likely against his wishes, it will be a bigger shock than the Luka trade.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Yields a $40.7mm TPE...large enought to absorb Kyrie (just saying).  Charlotte has a huge pick inventory now.

Windhorst said on ESPN it's the largest TPE in NBA history. They feel Charlotte did very well. I would assume Beringer (who they're very high on) or Zikarsky will be the starter at PF now. When everyone else is going big in the West, Minnesota does the opposite. They've also emptied the chamber on draft picks. Not a good spot to be in if you ask me.

[KillerLeft]

Does Jaylen Brown fit into that trade exception?

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
Charlotte is indeed now trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, league sources say, after @TheSteinLine revealed Minnesota’s interest last night.

The Hornets have successfully pried Naz Reid away from the Wolves and will now try to retain Pistons target Coby White in free agency.

[Jmaciscool]

Wow. Strange move for both teams, imho. Not sure I like it. All of a sudden Minny became very thin at PF and only has one proven C in Gobert. McDaniels is not big/strong enough to play PF imho and they have no one else that could play the position. They also spend all of their assets now.

Charlotte has traded their offensive engine, that will be likely replaced by White. If he walks, they might be in trouble. Not sure why they drafted a bunch of young centers, that will be battling for minutes behind Reed now. They have Kalkbrenner from last season and additional 2 drafted this year. Even though I am not the biggest Ball fan, assets received seem kind of meh.

I'm not a big Ball fan, so I like the deal from Charlotte's perspective. I recall reading articles around the trade deadline that lumped LaMelo in with Ja and Trae as guards that had talent overshadowed by enough flaws to prevent anyone from really wanting them. Trae ended up as a salary dump and who knows with Ja (but it doesn't look good if even the Kings are like "no thanks"), so if Charlotte could get Reid, some picks, and some swaps...that seems good to me. That being said, I agree that it's a risk to trade the straw that stirred the drink of last season's upswing, so could definitely see it biting them going forward.

Minny has gone from Ant/KAT/Gobert to Ant/Randal/Gobert to Ant/Ball/Gobert. I personally don't see any of those iterations as much better than the others, so they've spent a lot of assets to effectively stay in the same place (imo). I was willing to give Connelly a shot if he ended up as the Mavs GM, but at this point I think the Mavs dodged a bullet there.

[omahen]

Does Jaylen Brown fit into that trade exception?

No. His salary is 57 mil

[Mavs2021]

Does Jaylen Brown fit into that trade exception?

Not even close.

Personally I think the Hornets will use it to eat dirt and acquire more future trade assets. 

I could see a Naz Reid for Walker Kessler trade.

[Smitty]

@YossiGozlan
The Hornets reduce their payroll by $21 million by trading LaMelo Ball and Josh Green for Naz Reid.

Josh Green for Naz Reid is a clean salary match, allowing them to create a $40.8 million trade exception for Ball.

They also have 12 future first-round picks through 2033.

[omahen]

Windhorst said on ESPN it's the largest TPE in NBA history. They feel Charlotte did very well. I would assume Beringer or Zikarsky will be the starter at PF now. When everyone else is going big in the West, Minnesota does the opposite. They've also emptied the chamber on draft picks. Not a good spot to be in if you ask me.

Beringer is a center imho, not even close to PF.

[Mavs2021]

@YossiGozlan
The Hornets reduce their payroll by $21 million by trading LaMelo Ball and Josh Green for Naz Reid.

Josh Green for Naz Reid is a clean salary match, allowing them to create a $40.8 million trade exception for Ball.

They also have 12 future first-round picks through 2033.

I like their new team and the direction of the franchise. Ah Jordan sold the team in 2023. Makes sense.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Beringer is a center imho, not even close to PF.

I saw him listed as a PF on another site at 6'11 230 lbs. That's a PF to me, but I digress.

[DanSchwartzgan]

If Masai's first big trade is sending Kyrie to Charlotte, likely against his wishes, it will be a bigger shock than the Luka trade.

I don't think it makes sense to send Kyrie to Charlotte.  It is just where my mind goes when I see the large TPE.

In fact, this action by Minnesota and Detroit drafting Okorie makes me think the league has really been told Kyrie is staying.  Those were the two most likely suitors for his services.

[KillerLeft]

I was willing to give Connelly a shot if he ended up as the Mavs GM, but at this point I think the Mavs dodged a bullet there.

Well, Minnesota does need a PG pretty badly, imo, and it seems like the Mavs wouldn't do a Kyrie deal, so this piece of business in a vacuum makes a little sense to me. 

But yeah...totally agree with your Mavs/Connelly point.

[KillerLeft]

I don't think it makes sense to send Kyrie to Charlotte.  It is just where my mind goes when I see the large TPE.

In fact, this action by Minnesota and Detroit drafting Okorie makes me think the league has really been told Kyrie is staying.  Those were the two most likely suitors for his services.

Yeah, I agree. 

Let's say we live in an alternate universe where Kyrie was available. How many of those picks and swaps we just saw change hands might have ended up in Dallas, do we think? I'm sure there's a premium when you trade for a 24 year old, rather than a 34 year old.

[Mavs2021]

I don't think it makes sense to send Kyrie to Charlotte.  It is just where my mind goes when I see the large TPE.

In fact, this action by Minnesota and Detroit drafting Okorie makes me think the league has really been told Kyrie is staying.  Those were the two most likely suitors for his services.

Things are just getting started, but I agree that Kyrie is likely to stay and if he is traded it will be a destination he likes, cause his player option for next year gives him strong leverage. I don´t see him re-signing with the Hornets. 

If Orlando offered Black + Isaac +WCJ + Richardson + future unprotected 1st to re-unite him with Sweeney. That makes some sense for both sides, if the Mavs go full re-build and believe in Black. If Portland offered Sharpe + Hansen + Henderson for their win now move, I´d do it.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Sick trade. This is why I love the NBA. (although that removes a Kyrie suitor)

I've always felt Lamelo would be ok surrounded by a good vet in a good organization. Not sure if the Twolves are that organization. Ant can be kind of immature also. And Chris Finch is known for not holding players accountable. They should probably keep Mike Conley around.

[SleepingHero]

Yeah, I agree. 

Let's say we live in an alternate universe where Kyrie was available. How many of those picks and swaps we just saw change hands might have ended up in Dallas, do we think? I'm sure there's a premium when you trade for a 24 year old, rather than a 34 year old.

I think all of them.

Mostly because Kyrie is that much of a better player regardless of age. Lamelo has the stats, but MIN just doomed themselves. 

Can't wait to see where Ant goes in 2 years.

[Smitty]

It's down to Simons and Sexton in (PG) free agency. I guess there's a relationship/connection there with Simons-Schmitz in Portland. However, they did trade Simons for Holiday. Impossible to know what Schmitz actually thinks of him.

[Dirknows]

I don't think it makes sense to send Kyrie to Charlotte.  It is just where my mind goes when I see the large TPE.

In fact, this action by Minnesota and Detroit drafting Okorie makes me think the league has really been told Kyrie is staying.  Those were the two most likely suitors for his services.

I mean, I don’t think Detroit was offering much. Minnesota didn’t have much we would want so. I believe Kyrie is obviously available for a massive haul as things stand right now. But I think him playing a couple months and playing really good will only increase his value.