Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Tyler]

So, here is an example:

We are $19.4mm under the tax line currently.  If we were to trade Gafford and Martin for Jordan Poole, it would eat up $6.8mm of our space under the tax.  Tarik would need to take $13mm instead of the $15mm MLE to keep Dallas under the tax...thus possibly the $2mm his people are talking about as being less than what he wants.  Basically, Dallas is prioritizing the deal for Poole and then Tarik gets whatever is left under the tax.

I know, even $13mm seems way more than we were thinking.  Just showing math at this point (though Gafford/Martin for Poole's expiring deal and positional need isn't a bad thought).

Good point. Trading for more money while reserving the rest of the room under the tax for Tarik could explain the dueling star/space rumors.

Thinking bigger than Poole, Dallas supposedly offered PJ, Klay, and a 1st for Kawhi. What if another team saw that and took them up on the same offer? Those two alone could get us up to about $47mm in a returning player. That's a +10mm with 9.4mm left for Tarik. It could stretch even further if you include other salaries. What good but expensive star targets might qualify? 

As a starting point since we talked to Kawhi, forwards like Markkanen, Banchero, and Franz Wagner fit the mold as expensive but versatile players that could be on the move. I'm sure there are some guard options, too.

[SleepingHero]

So, here is an example:

We are $19.4mm under the tax line currently.  If we were to trade Gafford and Martin for Jordan Poole, it would eat up $6.8mm of our space under the tax.  Tarik would need to take $13mm instead of the $15mm MLE to keep Dallas under the tax...thus possibly the $2mm his people are talking about as being less than what he wants.  Basically, Dallas is prioritizing the deal for Poole and then Tarik gets whatever is left under the tax.

I know, even $13mm seems way more than we were thinking.  Just showing math at this point (though Gafford/Martin for Poole's expiring deal and positional need isn't a bad thought).

I know you're just coming up with examples of guys that fit the "distressed" asset pool (proud of myself for that one), but I think Poole is the antithesis of the type of player the Mavs have been targeting as of late. 

He's a score first flashy guard that makes some of the biggest bone-headed plays imaginable, akin to Caleb Marting going for a dunk instead of giving Coop his 50th point and the lead.

Hard to imagine that the FO who has been prioritizing flexibility and BBIQ be interested in Poole. But another guard on the Pels makes a lot of sense as well with Dejounte Murray. He's a better player than Poole, but he's also a shell of himself coming back from his achilles and has another year on the books at 30mil vs. Poole's expiring. That should depress his value. 

Another "out-there" idea, but how about Derrick White? He would cost more than both Poole, Mathurin, and Murray, but he is coming of a very down year and a playoff performance that had Celtic fans wondering if the Monstars took his talent (11ppg 32/27/84 splits). He has 2 more years after this one at 33 and 35, which I'm sure Boston isn't too thrilled about given his last year. Plus, Boston does need a center to pair with Mitchell Robinson given how he's made of glass. If it cost Gafford+Klay+2031 does that interest anyone?

[SleepingHero]

It probably would have been smarter to do Dejounte Murray instead.  The math actually works a little better.

Aaaaaand you posted this while I was writing....

[DanSchwartzgan]

Aaaaaand you posted this while I was writing....

I'll pretend it was a tie if you'll pretend I never suggested Poole in the first place.  I was mainly focused on leaving $13mm in salary following the trade (thus the $2mm short of what he wanted) and wasn't that focused on players.  Murray is literally 4 slots lower on the list of salaries.

[Smitty]

@sam_amick
Sources: The Nuggets plan to match Peyton Watson offers, but are also open to sign-and-trade scenarios.

More here on the league’s latest sticky situation in restricted free agency, at @TheAthletic
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424278...gency-nba/

[SleepingHero]

I'll pretend it was a tie if you'll pretend I never suggested Poole in the first place.  I was mainly focused on leaving $13mm in salary following the trade (thus the $2mm short of what he wanted) and wasn't that focused on players.  Murray is literally 4 slots lower on the list of salaries.

Fred Van Vleet also makes sense as well. 

Another more expensive option (and one that makes a little less sense for CHI) but Josh Giddey.

[Chicagojk]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424278/2026/07/05/nuggets-peyton-watson-update-restricted-free-agency-nba/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.vlA.B1lP.dZ853lqqeASX

While it’s unclear how many teams are pursuing Watson, only the Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers have the salary-cap space to submit the offer sheet he wants. The Clippers, league sources said, have shown legitimate interest in Watson but are also navigating their own restricted free agency situation with Bennedict Mathurin, which complicates matters. Several teams are known to have registered interest in a sign-and-trade for Watson.

Around the league, there has been a widespread belief that the Nuggets would be motivated to avoid the second apron by shedding salary this summer. But as The Athletic reported in June, Denver’s ownership has not given its front office, which is led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, a mandate to cut costs. That messaging has become even more meaningful in recent days, as the Nuggets are considered to be among the teams still in the running for unrestricted free agent LeBron James (who, coincidentally, is also represented by Paul).

[Jym]

No one ever mentions Herb Jones anymore
Way cheaper to aquire than a couple years ago

[loki]

@sam_amick
Sources: The Nuggets plan to match Peyton Watson offers, but are also open to sign-and-trade scenarios.

More here on the league’s latest sticky situation in restricted free agency, at @TheAthletic
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424278...gency-nba/

I wonder how much of Denver's plan to match/not shed salary is just a smokescreen. I think Watson would be a great fit as the starting SF and would push Flagg to his more natural position. It might take a 3rd team, but I'd give up PJ and the Lakers pick to make it happen.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

No one ever mentions Herb Jones anymore
Way cheaper to aquire than a couple years ago

There were a few reports before the draft that New Orleans was still looking for two firsts.

[DanSchwartzgan]

It probably would have been smarter to do Dejounte Murray instead.  The math actually works a little better.

Murray/Sasser/Nembhard
Irving/Christie/Sergio
Flagg/Naji/Biber 
PJ/Aldama/Klay
Lively/Morez/Cisse

I kind of like this.  What do the extensions for Christie and Naji look like if both are coming off the bench?  A little thin at Center if we don’t have Lively back.

[KillerLeft]

Murray/Sasser/Nembhard
Irving/Christie/Sergio
Flagg/Naji/Biber 
PJ/Aldama/Klay
Lively/Morez/Cisse

I kind of like this.  What do the extensions for Christie and Naji look like if both are coming off the bench?  A little thin at Center if we don’t have Lively back.

I like your Mathurin idea better, and I think it's more realistic. 

Remind me: who are the teams in question, the ones from your big mutl-team trade fit?

[SleepingHero]

I like your Mathurin idea better, and I think it's more realistic. 

Remind me: who are the teams in question, the ones from your big mutl-team trade fit?

LAC sends to DAL: Mathurin and SnT John Collins to DET

DET sends to DAL: Sasser and to MEM: Stewart

MEM sends to DAL: Aldama 

DAL sends to MEM: AJ Johnson, and to LAC: Gafford (or Klay)

[SleepingHero]

Murray/Sasser/Nembhard
Irving/Christie/Sergio
Flagg/Naji/Biber 
PJ/Aldama/Klay
Lively/Morez/Cisse

I kind of like this.  What do the extensions for Christie and Naji look like if both are coming off the bench?  A little thin at Center if we don’t have Lively back.

Aldama can play C if needed. Cisse has me hopeful he can play 15-20mpg if needed. But our C rotation is relying on a rookie making a big impact.

But I overall like this roster too. Especially if Lively can return back to 100%. Because when healthy he's one of the most impactful centers in the league.

[F Gump]

Yellow Legacy
@Yellowlegacy4m
? Dallas Mavericks and Tarik Biberovic still haven't agreed on salary. There's a two million euro difference between them. ? Dallas wants to add a star player to their roster. After acquiring that player, they want to give their entire budget to Tarik Biberovic. ? The player is currently interested, but they haven't been able to agree on a price. If Tarik leaves, Fenerbahçe will receive 2 million euros.  ? @yagosabuncuoglu x.com/yagiz_iv/statu…
3:53 PM · Jul 5, 20267.7KViews

This is intriguing. My immediate reaction to "star" was the Mavs are planning on Lebron. Or another very high profile player. 

But let's consider. How would a Euro outlet know who the Mavs are pursuing? They wouldn't. So let's work backwards.

The Euro report got this info from Tarik or his agent. But the Mavs wouldn't have told them who they are pursuing either. So this must be based on what the Mavs told them when they wanted more money. 

My guess at what the Mavs said? Something like this: you want more money, but we have to see what happens on another deal(s) we are working on, and then maybe we can offer more. But this is all we have to offer for now. We have some higher priorities in our spending.

Smart negotiating. This is our offer. Maybe we can offer more later, but maybe not. But here's our offer, if you want it. Non-committal. And I wouldn't assume the Mavs will necessarily ever get to the point where they come back and raise their offer.

From Tarik's angle - the Mavs are still chasing a star player, because he's a much higher spending priority than me.

[DanSchwartzgan]

LAC sends to DAL: Mathurin and SnT John Collins to DET

DET sends to DAL: Sasser and to MEM: Stewart

MEM sends to DAL: Aldama 

DAL sends to MEM: AJ Johnson, and to LAC: Gafford (or Klay)

OKC might or might not be involved also (Joe to Detroit).

One interesting variation to this would be that the trade match for Gafford (or Klay) ends up being Aldama instead of Mathurin.  That leaves the TPE for the Mathurin S&T which means splitting the MLE with Bibenovic is no longer the limitation.  Instead, the room under the tax is the limitation...so they are splitting $19mm instead of $15mm.

[KillerLeft]

OKC might or might not be involved also (Joe to Detroit).

One interesting variation to this would be that the trade match for Gafford (or Klay) ends up being Aldama instead of Mathurin.  That leaves the TPE for the Mathurin S&T which means splitting the MLE with Bibenovic is no longer the limitation.  Instead, the room under the tax is the limitation...so they are splitting $19mm instead of $15mm.

Or, it could leave the TPE for any future use, I assume, through the trade deadline, basically. They last for a year, correct?

[Mavs2021]

@sam_amick
Sources: The Nuggets plan to match Peyton Watson offers, but are also open to sign-and-trade scenarios.

More here on the league’s latest sticky situation in restricted free agency, at @TheAthletic
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424278...gency-nba/

We are at that stage already? Breaking news: Nuggets will or will not keep Watson.

[KillerLeft]

We are at that stage already? Breaking news: Nuggets will or will not keep Watson.

Today's the day RFA's can officially sign their deals, I believe, so I'd imagine we'll get a version of this about all of them soon. Unless LeBron manages to successfully grind everything to a halt one more time.

[JamesConway816]

Come on, man. Really? “We gotta take care of De’Andre first, but we’ll give you whatever’s left.” “Well, De’Andre screwed us, but we’ll magnanimously pay you over double your value because we’re good on our word.” Leading to yeeeeeeeears of Mav fan facepalms.

This just ruined my monday morning ffs Scott. 

I was also HYPED about Jeremy Lin being out starting PG that summer for the room exception alongside Matthews at half his salary, Parsons playing point forward, Dirk at the four and VAJ.

That would have been a really solid team. Probably even better than the Jameer Nelson-Mavs.