Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[F Gump]

Roster crunch (trades aren’t official until the 6th, so not including those yet; just the outgoing off the books):

1) Flagg
2) Kyrie
3) PJW
4) MoJo
5) Gafford 
6) Max Christie
7) Marshall
8) Martin
9) Lively
10) Klay
11) Nembhard
12) Sergio

Two-ways:
A) Lawal
B) Tyler
C) Poulakidas

Supposedly incoming:
13) Aldama
14) Ishchenko
15) Sasser
16) Tarik

Still need to be resolved:
17) Middleton
18) Cisse 
19) Powell (yep, he’s still lurking out there)

The crunch is bad. There’s got to be a two for one - if not, frankly, two of them, or perhaps trading a player for picks.

I think the bottom of your list is more like this (which makes the roster crunch less crunchy):

Supposedly incoming:
13) Aldama
14) Ishchenko
14) Sasser
16) Tarik

Still need to be resolved:
15) Ishchenko
16) Tarik
17) Middleton
18) Cisse 
19) Powell (yep, he’s still lurking out there) 

So it looks to me that they only have 14 in place, and room for either a player from the bottom group or someone else. No worries.

[Dundalis]

Interesting thought process. What if Lebron does not want just the MLE in FA. He says I come to Dallas, but I need 23M. Don´t sign me outright. Trade me for PJ Washington. You know Luka and the Lakers would want it. Would you do it straight up? What assets do you want from the Lakers? Do you want Bronny? Do you flat out tell Lebron MLE or nothing.

I want future assets for PJ (picks or young players) or keep him. Im not opposed to signing Lebron for a short term FA deal, because I do think he can provide value in the short term along with Kyrie to the young guys, help take the potential ball handling burden off Kyrie and Coop, and help the team be better next year when theres no benefit to having a bad year. Not to mention that IMO, if Lebron were to sign with the Mavericks, that means he's not as honed in on looking to finish his career with another ring as we might think. I'd be more content with where his mentality is at. That being said I fully expect his mindset to be about winning another ring, so don't expect the Mavs to be an option regardless of if we have interest.

Also would be good with moves for Matherin, Sharpe or Scoot, not because I think they are ideal players for the Mavs longer term, I'm actually not particularly high on any of them at all, but because I think a good strategy while the Mavs are in rebuilding mode, is to bring in young players who have the natural talent to be rehabilitated to an extent to where you can build their value and move them on for really good assets at a later date.

So if you look to make moves with that concept in mind, future fit and thinking about them as long term Mavs becomes less relevant, it's all about do they have the talent to where you could showcase them to show out and extract maximum value moving them at a later date. If they tick that box then I think it's a good idea to bring them in, even if I don't really like them as longer term fits next to Coop or just in general. I think this is a pretty good longer term strategy to rebuild assets for a team that's given a a lot assets away.

[F Gump]

"What if Lebron does not want just the MLE in FA. He says I come to Dallas, but I need 23M."

I doubt there's a path for him to get that size of deal from anyone.

The SNT ship has probably sailed for Lebron. LA is signing Kessler using cap room, and to get that space they must revoke Lebron's Bird rights. So they won't be doing the "Sign Lebron" part (because they have no way to sign him), which eliminates SNT angles.

That means if a team wants to sign Lebron, they will have to use either cap room (which all his suitors have already spent, I think) or an MLE/BAE/minimum exception to do so. As we sit, the MLE like the Mavs could use is probably the biggest offer he'll be offered, and many of the suitors won't even have that.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

LeBron James will be making his free agent decision between the following six NBA teams, per @ShamsCharania - Cavaliers - Heat - Nuggets - Sixers - Timberwolves - Warriors

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Third Apron: Andre Drummond is getting the veteran minimum. He will receive $3.9 million but count as $2.4 million. The Knicks are $6.2 million below the second apron. They could stay under it and reach the 14 player minimum with two more veteran minimum signings.

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[RoyTarpleysGhost]

LeBron James will be making his free agent decision between the following six NBA teams, per @ShamsCharania - Cavaliers - Heat - Nuggets - Sixers - Timberwolves - Warriors

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thank God we got that out of the way

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Michael Scotto: The Utah Jazz and Josh Okogie have agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal, including a team option for the second year, league sources told @hoopshype. Okogie is a noted defender who shot 38.5% from 3-point range last season. ESPN first on the deal. HoopsHype first on team option

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Keith Smith: Players who sign a one-year contract, or a two-year contract with a player or team option on Year 2, and will have Bird or Early Bird rights, get an implied no-trade clause. Players can choose to waive this implied NTC upon signing their contract.

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[Chicagojk]

LeBron James will be making his free agent decision between the following six NBA teams, per @ShamsCharania - Cavaliers - Heat - Nuggets - Sixers - Timberwolves - Warriors

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quick prediction:    Warriors are probably the favorite.   Funniest place for Lebron to play with.  Although, I don't think they are a real contender and probably a first or second round elimination.    

Heat are out.   Giannis is getting the main attraction going there.  Lebron isn't going to take a back seat to someone else going to a new team.

Philly are out.   Philly is just a tough place to play.  They love you when you win, but things can turn nasty fast.   I say they are out.

That leaves Cavs, Nuggets and Wolves.    Wolves may the longest of the three, but they could also be the best spot.    Minny doesn't typically get these guys but this could be intriguing.   Lets play history and say they are out.  

Denver is probably the second funniest place to play.   He can be the saving hope for Denver fans.   They are in the west though and would be no better than the third favorite in the west.    I would want to see more from Denver in moves first.

My choice is Cleveland.   He can ride off in the sunset with the team he entered the league with.  His hometown team.   Clev is ready made who has come up short.   They have ball handling and are deep, so Lebron can not be overused during the regular season.    If they come up short, you have Harden already there as a scapegoat

[DanSchwartzgan]

We’re impatient. That’s the way of fans. I think they have a good read on it. Contingencies, things lined up, other possibilities… I just think the next domino is the Tarik situation. That’s all.

I think more news is likely to revolve around Detroit’s next move instead of Tarik.  They want Murphy.  Everyone assumes they have to send out LaVert and Holland, but there is a world where Robinson goes somewhere (LA?) to trade match Collins and Stewart/Sasser are a trade match for Murphy with NO getting picks but no salary.  

Robinson, Huerter and Joe don’t make much sense to all be on Detroit.  The nice thing about the moratorium is you don’t have to execute things in the same order you announce them.  So far, Detroit has done things they can do using cap space.  Huerter goes into the Room MLE and the reported move of Stewart goes into space.  But, it can all be rearranged when reported to the league on 7/6.  The Robinson partial guarantee plan seemingly changed from cutting him to keeping him (though his decision deadline isn’t until January).  

BTW, this all fits into the Gafford for Mathurin narrative I’ve been pushing.  LAC ends up with Robinson and Gafford sending out Collins and Mathurin.  Detroit gets Collins and Dallas gets Mathurin.  Then, the bigger deal with Memphis, Dallas and Detroit loops in New Orleans with the $20mm of outgoing for Stewart and Sasser plus $7.5mm matching Murphy.  If done this way, Detroit only had to dip below the cap to fit in Joe and not Joe plus Collins.

From the standpoint of the Mav’s, lumping them into a bigger deal where AJJ goes to Memphis and Sasser comes here allows them to avoid use of the BAE or part of the MLE for Sasser.

[Winter]

I have watched several Aldama highlight videos, and it dawned on me that we have now several players who can play multiple positions.

1. Aldama can play anywhere on the front court.
2. Johnson can play center or PF
3. Flagg can play anwhere really (which is crazy)
4. De Larrea could play either guard spot
5. Poulikidas SG or SF
6. Christie SG or SF
7. Kyrie PG or SG
8. Marshall SF or PF
9. Washington SF or PF

This team is truly built in a positionless framework.

Aldama is interesting. He is not explosive at all, but he manages to create his own shot by making good decisions. He's a good passer, and a good rebounder. From what I can tell, he's not going to be a threatening defender, but he has enough length to be a problem for guards and wings. He has a low TO rate for the number of minutes he plays. Aldama has a nice selection of small injuries in his years in the NBA, so he's probably a player who may only get 60-70 games at the most - but given the versatile lineup on this team that may not be a serious problem.

[SleepingHero]

Not sure. Carr wasn't my favorite prospect, and I'm not sure the draft capital would be sufficient, given Vanderbilt's contract is involved. 

I'd hope for something a little better...a little simpler. I think I'd pass.

I don't think LA does this, anyway.

I don’t think you’re fully appreciating how desperate LA is.


But regardless that package is selling really really low on PJ. Could easily fetch a first if we shopped him around.  I’d rather keep PJ and let him have a resurgence year

[Chicagojk]

I just think the league has told you guys like Sharpe and Mathurin are not envogue these days. I also think both sort of go against what the new leadership seems to be targeting. It also complicates things with the roster as neither are creators or connectors.

I can see the value in both and could talk myself into either. I would just be surprised if they are targets at the moment.

[Mavs2021]

LeBron James will be making his free agent decision between the following six NBA teams, per @ShamsCharania - Cavaliers - Heat - Nuggets - Sixers - Timberwolves - Warriors

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Does he really have the balls to stiff the Cavs again with LeDecision Part II. Logically there is only one decision. He´s going home to Cleveland. That´s the one place where winning #6 might let him back into the guest room of MJ´s house. If he goes to Golden State he might as well move into Steph´s guesthouse.

[Mavs2021]

I just think the league has told you guys like Sharpe and Mathurin are not envogue these days.  I also think both sort of go against what the new leadership seems to be targeting.  It also complicates things with the roster as neither are creators or connectors. 

I can see the value in both and could talk myself into either.  I would just be surprised if they are targets at the moment.

Is it true though? Not saying I agree or disagree with the figures paid, but

AAV

Young 53
Reaves 46
Kessler 32
Hartenstein 25
White 25
Powell 23
Dosunmu 23
Collins 17
Eason 16

Then it goes into MLE territory. 

So no forwards in the top 7 of the summer, but five guards and three who are below average on defense. Only forwards paid above the MLE are Collins and Eason.

That Young contract looks even wilder now.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I think his point is guards/wings that aren’t good shooters and don’t create offense for others. Basically inefficient, volume scorers.

That’s how I would describe Mathurin, Sharpe, and Kuminga.

[Mavs2021]

I think his point is guards/wings that aren’t good shooters and don’t create offense for others. Basically inefficient, volume scorers.

That’s how I would describe Mathurin, Sharpe, and Kuminga.

How I´d describe White, too. He got paid. Nobody is getting paid this summer. I could say teams don´t like to pay forwards that can´t pass or dribble. So basically teams only want to pay well-rounded players regardless of their position.

[mvossman]

How I´d describe White, too. He got paid. Nobody is getting paid this summer. I could say teams don´t like to pay forwards that can´t pass or dribble. So basically teams only want to pay well-rounded players regardless of their position.

Sexton and Simmons show the league isn’t paying for undersized shooting guards that don’t play defense. Coby got paid because he has positional size compared to those two.

[mvossman]

I don’t get the interest in Mathurin. He can’t shoot, he doesn’t create for others and he is a poor defender. He is tall and he can score, but he is a low BBIQ player that doesn’t really seem to fit the kind of player this FO is targeting.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I don’t get the interest in Mathurin. He can’t shoot, he doesn’t create for others and he is a poor defender. He is tall and he can score, but he is a low BBIQ player that doesn’t really seem to fit the kind of player this FO is targeting.

Would you take Duncan Robinson’s efficiency instead?  Gafford to LAC, Collins to DET and Robinson to DAL.  What else would we need?  I doubt firsts come with that, but seconds?