Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[loki]

I'm hoping Lebron goes to Golden State so we can see one last hurrah for Steph. I could also see them having interest in the Mavs role players like PJ/Naji/Gaff/Klay. I'd happily take back Butler's dead money for a boatload of draft picks. They might just be desperate enough to give real value.

[KillerLeft]

I'm hoping Lebron goes to Golden State so we can see one last hurrah for Steph. I could also see them having interest in the Mavs role players like PJ/Naji/Gaff/Klay. I'd happily take back Butler's dead money for a boatload of draft picks. They might just be desperate enough to give real value.

I'm not sure you're getting those firsts...I think the picks currently available for GS to trade are among the most valuable in the league right now. That team is GUARANTEED to be terrible in a couple of years. 

My irresponsible, wildly speculative take is that part of why LeBron hasn't already signed there is that they (GS) DON'T want to trade those picks for Anthony Davis. I think we're maybe witnessing a leverage attempt from Rich Paul with all this "where is LeBron going" crap.

[Mavs2021]

Your logic has so many holes... 

It was obvious that Lakers will be targeting a different starting center for months. If Ayton would think he is not a back-up, he would not pick his option but hit a FA market and find a team offering him a bigger role (and hopefully money). 

Lakers could use Ayton as a good back-up centre, but they have bigger needs elsewhere on the roster and those 2 SRPs might make the difference in getting an actually decent wing. They have some flexibility again. Either creating more cap space to sign either Kuminga or Rui they are reportedly interested in. Or they can trade with some team that has too many wings.

Nobody would offer Ayton more money or a bigger role. Name just one place that would consider him a starting center. 

If Kessler goes down and he has legitimately been hurt not just "tank hurt" it gets pretty thin. Ah forget they also got Mamu. Fair enough on that front. He´s a good center. Nevertheless hang around. In 2028 Luka will be back.

[F Gump]

As it stands, Aldama is going into the TPE.  That could change if we were to expand the deal and send out players who might trade match Aldama.  But right now the TPE is used (or $17mm of it) and the MLE and BAE are still available.

Isn't the BAE being used to take the Sasser salary?

[F Gump]

Right now there are two rotational level players on this roster that you would want initiating offense, Flagg and Kyrie.  There is only one true PG on the roster in Nemby, and he is a third string kind of player.  Its kind of crazy.  They already let reasonably priced 6th men go by.  I'm not really sure what the plan is, but if there is not a significant roster move we will be seeing a lot of Flagg at the 1.

The "way outside the box" idea is adding LeBron, with the lack of a ball-dominating PG opening up minutes for others to have the ball. With that hole being there on this roster, maybe that entices him. And with a core offense of Flagg-Kyrie-Lebron, the supporting cast is deep and multi-talented.

[BigDirk41]

The "way outside the box" idea is adding LeBron, with the lack of a ball-dominating PG opening up minutes for others to have the ball. With that hole being there on this roster, maybe that entices him. And with a core offense of Flagg-Kyrie-Lebron, the supporting cast is deep and multi-talented.

We definitely wouldn't suck and should have lots of shooters with the new Euros. It would be fun to watch at least.

[SkenfromLMF]

In Detroit’s desire to trade Sasser how much does AJ Johnson return on a trade? There are reports that Memphis and Detroit are seeking to combine a couple of the reported transactions to preserve their exceptions. Specifically that Sasser’s salary combined with Stewart’s salary qualifies as a return for Collins OR one of their reported acquisitions.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Mathurin has the same problems as Kuminga. If he wanted to be an excellent role player, he probably could be. But he fancies himself as a guy that wants the ball and to put up points. He's not efficient and he's not a good playmaker. I would have very little interest in him, just like Kuminga.

I haven't watched Shadeon Sharpe play since I cant remember the last time I watched a Portland game but my impression of him is similar. Bad shooter that wants to shoot. Bad playmaker. Averaged more turnovers than assists.

All these guys are similar archetypes. Great athletes. Flash potential. Inefficient. Bad basketball IQ.

Hope the highly paid front office has better ideas.

[KillerLeft]

Mathurin has the same problems as Kuminga.  If he wanted to be an excellent role player, he probably could be.  But he fancies himself as a guy that wants the ball and to put up points.  He's not efficient and he's not a good playmaker.  I would have very little interest in him, just like Kuminga. 

I haven't watched Shadeon Sharpe play since I cant remember the last time I watched a Portland game but my impression of him is similar.  Bad shooter that wants to shoot.  Bad playmaker.  Averaged more turnovers than assists. 

All these guys are similar archetypes.  Great athletes.  Flash potential.  Inefficient. Bad basketball IQ.

I agree with a lot of this about Mathurin, especially the IQ part. I also kind of agree with the Kuminga comp - different players, and at least Mathurin is a guard, so I'd hate him here much less on a flyer, but I think you make a good point with the comp.

I don't know enough about Sharpe to paint him with the same brush.

[Mavs2021]

The "way outside the box" idea is adding LeBron, with the lack of a ball-dominating PG opening up minutes for others to have the ball. With that hole being there on this roster, maybe that entices him. And with a core offense of Flagg-Kyrie-Lebron, the supporting cast is deep and multi-talented.

I didn´t want to write it, maybe I did, but on paper PG Bron fits this roster really well.

Could that be the reason for the Klay/Middleton hold-ups? LeBron obviously would change the whole outlook. I´m not saying he makes the Mavs a contender, but we´d have to treat the roster as such, which probably means Klay will stay and the roster would be complete. Might have to stretch waive Martin.

LeBron/ DeLarrea / Nembhard / Sasser
Kyrie/ Christie/ Klay
Flagg/ Marshall/ Biberovic
Washington/Aldama/
Gafford/Johnson/Lively

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I agree with a lot of this about Mathurin, especially the IQ part. I also kind of agree with the Kuminga comp - different players, and at least Mathurin is a guard, so I'd hate him here much less on a flyer, but I think you make a good point with the comp.

I don't know enough about Sharpe to paint him with the same brush.

I wish I had some constructive ideas to throw out there instead of poopooing other people's ideas but the Mavs seem to be in a difficult spot when it comes to adding a young guard with the skillset we desire.

Mathurin does get to the free throw line a lot. That's a positive.

[BigDirk41]

I didn´t want to write it, maybe I did, but on paper PG Bron fits this roster really well.

Could that be the reason for the Klay/Middleton hold-ups? LeBron obviously would change the whole outlook. I´m not saying he makes the Mavs a contender, but we´d have to treat the roster as such, which probably means Klay will stay and the roster would be complete. Might have to stretch waive Martin.

LeBron/ DeLarrea / Nembhard / Sasser
Kyrie/ Christie/ Klay
Flagg/ Marshall/ Biberovic
Washington/Aldama/
Gafford/Johnson/Lively

That's actually a pretty damn good team. Not better than SA or OKC, but would probably be in the next tier.

[KillerLeft]

I didn´t want to write it, maybe I did, but on paper PG Bron fits this roster really well.

Could that be the reason for the Klay/Middleton hold-ups? LeBron obviously would change the whole outlook. I´m not saying he makes the Mavs a contender, but we´d have to treat the roster as such, which probably means Klay will stay and the roster would be complete. Might have to stretch waive Martin.

LeBron/ DeLarrea / Nembhard / Sasser
Kyrie/ Christie/ Klay
Flagg/ Marshall/ Biberovic
Washington/Aldama/
Gafford/Johnson/Lively

I totally agree that the addition of shooting at every opportunity makes this roster much more playmaker friendly, and it's now much better positioned to benefit from LeBron's skillset. I also agree that LeBron's skillset is probably the main thing missing. 

So far, unless I'm missing something, every single move they've made or tried to make has been for a target who's 25 years old or younger. And, the majority of them have been European targets, for whatever that's worth. Idk...could be way off, but those don't seem like moves a team trying to sign LeBron James would make to me.

[Mavs2021]

Also: @TheSteinLine has learned that new Mavericks coach Dusty May is also pursuing Garrett Temple for a spot on his first NBA coaching staff in the event that 16-year NBA veteran — who spent the past three seasons as a Toronto Raptor — elects to move into coaching

F´n Stein knows exactly what he did there.

[KillerLeft]

I wish I had some constructive ideas to throw out there instead of poopooing other people's ideas but the Mavs seem to be in a difficult spot when it comes to adding a young guard with the skillset we desire.

Agreed, which is why I've been pushing the Scoot Henderson thing. Not because it's my dream scenario, but because it's the closest thing to it I can talk myself into thinking is plausible. 

Hopefully there will be some crazy thing out of left field we can't currently see coming. If not, I still like the moves made. This team desperately needed to value shooting again and it's so, so obvious they understood that assignment.

[KillerLeft]

Also: @TheSteinLine has learned that new Mavericks coach Dusty May is also pursuing Garrett Temple for a spot on his first NBA coaching staff in the event that 16-year NBA veteran — who spent the past three seasons as a Toronto Raptor — elects to move into coaching

F´n Stein knows exactly what he did there.

Maybe he does...but I don't. Assume your point has flown right over my head. What are you getting at here?

[mvossman]

The "way outside the box" idea is adding LeBron, with the lack of a ball-dominating PG opening up minutes for others to have the ball. With that hole being there on this roster, maybe that entices him. And with a core offense of Flagg-Kyrie-Lebron, the supporting cast is deep and multi-talented.

So that would be the full MLE presumably. Not much downside. Way better than a Kawhi trade.

[Scott41theMavs]

I agree with a lot of this about Mathurin, especially the IQ part. I also kind of agree with the Kuminga comp - different players, and at least Mathurin is a guard, so I'd hate him here much less on a flyer, but I think you make a good point with the comp.

I don't know enough about Sharpe to paint him with the same brush.

Well, if those guys are out, Scoot (or pipe dream Wallace or Black) it is!

[KillerLeft]

Way better than a Kawhi trade.

For sure. Kawhi can be amazing, even still, but he was in LA for 7 years and had a hand in winning fewer playoff series that entire time than he did with TOR in 2019.

[mvossman]

For sure. Kawhi can be amazing, even still, but he was in LA for 7 years and had a hand in winning fewer playoff series that entire time than he did with TOR in 2019.

More importantly he cost significant assets. The big appeal of LeBron is that you are capped in what you can pay, both in assets and cap.