Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

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.

No, I get that. I'm just saying, IF there was ANY chance of Kawhi being healthy for the playoffs, I could justify spending assets for him. Maybe still not for the Mavericks, but in general. I still think he's the most impactful player who will change hands this summer, in theory. 

But, in SEVEN years, he has been healthy for like 1-3 playoff series, TOTAL. 

LeBron, on the other hand, has been a marvel of modern science with his availability, relatively speaking.

[WillE]

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

Yeah, I'm also wondering what I shall have missed here...

[cjeter24]

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.

It's literally a production. They got cameras everywhere and are selling the rights to is final year for TV/Streaming. 

The decision is already decided. This is all for show.

[KillerLeft]

It's literally a production. They got cameras everywhere and are selling the rights to is final year for TV/Streaming. 

The decision is already decided. This is all for show.

I agree with the all for show part. 100%. 

I really think there's something to this leveraging GS angle, however.

[mvossman]

Mathurin's defense supposedly gave Carlisle new (shaved) gray hairs. 

Thing is, Sexton and Simons weren't great shakes on defense either, and we supposedly sorta wanted them. With guys like Coop, Morez, Sasser, Lively, et al., we can probably afford a player who is a defensive liability. 

I wouldn't give him more than $12 mil in this market. You'd have to see what the Clipps want. If you're sending the LA pick, you'd better get some protections on it, plus M&M would have to be really sold on him being worthwhile.

My guess is the Mavs were not in on Sexton and Simmons. There have been a lot of rumors regarding the Mavs and they have made a lot of moves (including draft) and there has been zero intersection between the two. Masai seems to keep a very tight ship. I doubt we will know what they are interested in until the trigger gets pulled.

[Smitty]

It's literally a production. They got cameras everywhere and are selling the rights to is final year for TV/Streaming. 

The decision is already decided. This is all for show.

I don’t know if I can handle your bad takes on both platforms. You just had to mess up my one and only escape…

[cow]

Everyone days behind my LeBron to the Mavericks hopes and dreams.  Welcome aboard, friends!

*no chance he picks us.

[SleepingHero]

Everyone days behind my LeBron to the Mavericks hopes and dreams.  Welcome aboard, friends!

*no chance he picks us.

I can see it now:

Lebron sitting in his LA mansion pretending to mull over picking a team, talking to rich Paul about why the Warriors are a good pick. He then calls Steph and says “bro as much as I’d love to run it with you, I have to take my talents Washington D.C.”

[Winter]

It's literally a production. They got cameras everywhere and are selling the rights to is final year for TV/Streaming. 

The decision is already decided. This is all for show.

In a funny way, this is exactly why I don't want LeBron here. He will suck all the attention away from a young team. If he's here, everyone will be slightly in awe. By mid-season, players will resent him. The won-loss record will barely move.

[KillerLeft]

In a funny way, this is exactly why I don't want LeBron here. He will suck all the attention away from a young team. If he's here, everyone will be slightly in awe. By mid-season, players will resent him. The won-loss record will barely move.

Agree with the overall point. 

I disagree with the W/L part. I think adding LeBron to this team likely results in making the playoffs. Would they get past the first round? The 2nd? Not sure, nor am I sure it wouldn't be pointless wheel spinning in the long run. And if it is pointless wheel spinning, the circus you want to avoid (valid) will be even more annoying. 

But, adding LeBron, juxtaposed with some of these other moves that will create more space for someone...I think that would have an impact on the W/L record in the regular season, personally.

[Winter]

Assuming we're lucky enough to have him healthy for 60 games (his average the last 5 years).

[Mavs2021]

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

That they were pursuing Temple for a roster spot as a player before Stein took the coaching exit at the last stage of the tweet.

[DanSchwartzgan]

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

That's the presumption in a straight up deal with Detroit.  But, this seems destined to be at least three teams between Detroit, Memphis and Dallas and maybe expanded to include OKC and Collins S&T from LAC.  In that case, A.J. Johnson covers the Sasser salary and preserves the BAE.   

One of the things I find interesting in terms of figuring out what exceptions we do/don't still have.  Collins, Aldama and Gafford (or Klay) all make very similar salaries.  We assume Aldama has to go into the TPE because we haven't heard of any more outgoing salary from Dallas.  But additions to the multi-team deal might change our thinking.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Kyle Kuzma on NBA free agency

https://x.com/kylekuzma/status/2073144817606148455


"After sitting here watching NBA free agency this year and overall NBA movement over the past 2 years somebody has to say it....

The new CBA was sold as parity, but the first and second apron are starting to function like a hard cap on player value, team continuity, and player movement.

Teams are no longer making purely basketball decisions. They’re making fear-based apron decisions. That means good players get squeezed, homegrown cores get broken up, fan-favorite teams lose their identity, and the overall product loses some of the nostalgia and continuity that made people fall in love with the NBA in the first place.

This isn’t about players not understanding business. It’s the opposite. We understand that the NBA is a business. That’s why the @TheNBPA has to operate with elite business acumen, elite negotiating strategy, and real foresight.

The owners and the league walk into these meetings with killers that continue to run circles around us time and time again with elite lawyers, economists, cap experts, media strategists, and long term business operators. Players deserve a PA that is just as sharp, just as prepared, and just as aggressive about protecting our upside.

Too often, it feels like players are informed after the fact instead of being truly educated and empowered before decisions are made. That cannot continue.

The next CBA is a do or die moment for us as players. It's only going to get worse for us. We need transparency, accountability, and a serious re evaluation of who is representing us and how they are representing us.

This is not anti parity. This is pro player, fan, and product. The league is strongest when players are valued properly, great teams can stay together, and the people representing us are operating at the same level as the people sitting across the table."

[SleepingHero]

That's the presumption in a straight up deal with Detroit.  But, this seems destined to be at least three teams between Detroit, Memphis and Dallas and maybe expanded to include OKC and Collins S&T from LAC.  In that case, A.J. Johnson covers the Sasser salary and preserves the BAE.   

One of the things I find interesting in terms of figuring out what exceptions we do/don't still have.  Collins, Aldama and Gafford (or Klay) all make very similar salaries.  We assume Aldama has to go into the TPE because we haven't heard of any more outgoing salary from Dallas.  But additions to the multi-team deal might change our thinking.

Collins to DET 

Sasser+Mathurin+Aldama to DAL (+1.7m) 

Klay+ Gafford to LAC (+8.9m) 

Stewart+AJ Johnson to MEM (+1.2m)

Is legal and works for all teams. Doesn’t change any really reported deals except adding the Mathurin piece. Klay makes a little sense there given they are expecting to lose Beal and they just lost Bogdanovic to the the Rockets definitely means they have a hole there.

This preserves both TPE’s for DAL and the BAE. The real issue is now the Mavs have roster spaces to worry about with a full MLE to work with.

[Winter]

Collins to DET 

Sasser+Mathurin+Aldama to DAL (+1.7m) 

Klay+ Gafford to LAC (+8.9m) 

Stewart+AJ Johnson to MEM (+1.2m)

Is legal and works for all teams. Doesn’t change any really reported deals except adding the Mathurin piece. Klay makes a little sense there given they are expecting to lose Beal and they just lost Bogdanovic to the the Rockets definitely means they have a hole there.

This preserves both TPE’s for DAL and the BAE. The real issue is now the Mavs have roster spaces to worry about with a full MLE to work with.

If something like this were actually in play, then it's possible all these teams are waiting in this limbo to finalize this deal for the sole reason that Sasser's contract can't be finished until next week.

[BigDirk41]

Collins to DET 

Sasser+Mathurin+Aldama to DAL (+1.7m) 

Klay+ Gafford to LAC (+8.9m) 

Stewart+AJ Johnson to MEM (+1.2m)

Is legal and works for all teams. Doesn’t change any really reported deals except adding the Mathurin piece. Klay makes a little sense there given they are expecting to lose Beal and they just lost Bogdanovic to the the Rockets definitely means they have a hole there.

This preserves both TPE’s for DAL and the BAE. The real issue is now the Mavs have roster spaces to worry about with a full MLE to work with.

Sign me up for this. Nice work SH

[Smitty]

Collins to DET 

Sasser+Mathurin+Aldama to DAL (+1.7m) 

Klay+ Gafford to LAC (+8.9m) 

Stewart+AJ Johnson to MEM (+1.2m)

Is legal and works for all teams. Doesn’t change any really reported deals except adding the Mathurin piece. Klay makes a little sense there given they are expecting to lose Beal and they just lost Bogdanovic to the the Rockets definitely means they have a hole there.

This preserves both TPE’s for DAL and the BAE. The real issue is now the Mavs have roster spaces to worry about with a full MLE to work with.

I think I would do it. Then you have 2 spots. One for Tarik and one for Cisse. Clears a Two-Way for Ishchenko.


Kyrie | Sergio | Sasser | Nemby
Christie | Mathurin
Flagg | Naji | (Tarik)
PJW | Aldama | Martin
Morez | Lively | (Cisse)

Two-Way: Poulakidas, Lawal, Ishchenko

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Free agent center Andre Drummond has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million to sign with the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

I think I would do it. Then you have 2 spots. One for Tarik and one for Cisse. Clears a Two-Way for Ishchenko.


Kyrie | Sergio | Sasser | Nemby
Christie | Mathurin
Flagg | Naji | (Tarik)
PJW | Aldama | Martin
Morez | Lively | (Cisse)

Two-Way: Poulakidas, Lawal, Ishchenko

I didn't mention in my original post that I had Mathurin signing a 4 year/70mil contract. About 17mil AAV overall. A bit richer than Grimes, but Mathurin is a better player. 

I would also do it. I don't think any draft compensation between the Clippers or Mavs will be necessary because Gafford is sorely needed and Klay fills a need for them as well and is an expiring.