Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: Free agent Khris Middleton has agreed on a three-year, $17.6 million deal with the Washington Wizards via sign-and-trade, agent Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports Management tells ESPN. The 14-year veteran returns to D.C. where he spent parts of last two seasons as a leader with championship presence.

Dallas is sending Middleton to the Wizards via sign-and-trade as part of a larger six-team deal that includes, in total, the Mavericks, Wizards, Clippers, Pistons, Bucks and Grizzlies. It involves previously agreed upon deals such as John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (Detroit), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis), Santi Aldama (Mavericks), Caris LeVert (Bucks), etc.

[Tyler]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
Dallas is sending Middleton to the Wizards via sign-and-trade as part of a larger six-team deal that includes, in total, the Mavericks, Wizards, Clippers, Pistons, Bucks and Grizzlies. It involves previously agreed upon deals such as John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (Detroit), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis), Santi Aldama (Mavericks), Caris LeVert (Bucks), etc.

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Looks like Dallas used this to create the TPE for Sasser. Assuming the BAE goes to Tarik, that preserves the full MLE for something else.

[Scott41theMavs]

Finally - the big trade we’ve been waiting for.

[KillerLeft]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
Dallas is sending Middleton to the Wizards via sign-and-trade as part of a larger six-team deal that includes, in total, the Mavericks, Wizards, Clippers, Pistons, Bucks and Grizzlies. It involves previously agreed upon deals such as John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (Detroit), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis), Santi Aldama (Mavericks), Caris LeVert (Bucks), etc.

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Looks like Dallas used this to create the TPE for Sasser. Assuming the BAE goes to Tarik, that preserves the full MLE for something else.

Pretty nifty bit of business, if you're right.

[Tyler]

OK THEN

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Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan)
Alternatively, the Mavericks can aggregate Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson for Santi Aldama in the six team trade.

This allows them to preserve their $20.8 million trade exception.

[Smitty]

The Mavericks will create a $5.6 million trade exception by sign and trading Khris Middleton to these terms.

The Wizards can absorb him into their $13.4 million trade exception which expires tomorrow.

Alternatively, the Mavericks can aggregate Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson for Santi Aldama in the six team trade.

This allows them to preserve their $20.8 million trade exception.

[KillerLeft]

OK THEN

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Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan)
Alternatively, the Mavericks can aggregate Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson for Santi Aldama in the six team trade.

This allows them to preserve their $20.8 million trade exception.

Wow, even BETTER!!

[KillerLeft]

The Mavs' off season is like a David Lynch film. Every answer just leads to more questions.

[Scott41theMavs]

Wow, even BETTER!!

Not if they use it for a LeBron SnT.

[windjc]

The Mavs' off season is like a David Lynch film. Every answer just leads to more questions.

Because our owner is no longer on a treadmill answering questions everyday.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Is the trade exception more valuable than the MLE? Or do we have both? Or does it really matter because we’re x dollars from the tax line?

[SleepingHero]

Absolutely insane coup from Dallas. Turning Middleton+AJ into a deal that allows them to preserve the BAE (to get Tarik), create an avenue to get Sasser (for free), and preserve the full MLE while staying below the tax line is masterful.

[Moviemavguy]

The Mavs' off season is like a David Lynch film. Every answer just leads to more questions.

I'm eagerly awaiting the Bill Pullman turns into Balthazar Getty moment...

[Mavs2021]

Alternatively, the Mavericks can aggregate Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson for Santi Aldama in the six team trade.

This allows them to preserve their $20.8 million trade exception.

Jesus Christ how much money are the Wizards paying Middleton to make this match. I love. Now we have the full MLE and the full TPE left. 

Wow.

Just have no roster spots. LOL.

I wonder whether they could take Schroeder into the MLE. Make the Cavs pay two second rounders for the cap relief. The picks get re-routed to some rebuilding team to eat Caleb Martin´s contract.

[Jmaciscool]

Imagine being in 2018 and finding out that in 8 years DeAndre Ayton, Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Kris Middleton will all be playing for the Washington Wizards.

[KillerLeft]

Is the trade exception more valuable than the MLE?

I don’t understand any of this stuff. I just know players I like to see play basketball.

If you don't have a free agent target remaining worth giving the full MLE, then hell yes. You can supposedly use the MLE as trade exception, too, but this TPE is bigger.

[Scott41theMavs]

Jesus Christ how much money are the Wizards paying Middleton to make this match. I love. Now we have the full MLE and the full TPE left. 

Wow.

Just have no roster spots. LOL.

I wonder whether they could take Schroeder into the MLE. Make the Cavs pay two second rounders for the cap relief. The picks get re-routed to some rebuilding team to eat Caleb Martin´s contract.

NO EFFY SCHROEDER. DIRK SAYS NO.

[SleepingHero]

Is the trade exception more valuable than the MLE?

I don’t understand any of this stuff. I just know players I like to see play basketball.

The trade exception is worth 20.8 mil, which means the Mavs have the ability to absorb 20.8 mil of salary for free in any trade. The full MLE is worth around 15.6 mil right now. 

But the actual application of a trade exception is rarer. Case in point the Aldama trade, the Mavs were able to absorb Aldama for AJ Johnson due to the TPE, but now we've created a way where we can keep it for another deal.

Though, those deals are rarer than just being able to sign a guy with the MLE. Are there any guys making around 20 mil that makes sense for this team?

The Mavs currently have about ~38 mil of tax room. After using the MLE, absorbing Aldama, and signing Tarik, and getting Sasser, they'll be right at that tax line, which means using the TPE will put them into the tax.

Now does Dumont care about that? We will see.

[Smitty]

@KeithSmithNBA
Looks like the Mavs will come away with Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and they'll keep their $20.8M TPE to use through the trade deadline.

Pretty good get for them!

[Tyler]

@KeithSmithNBA
Looks like the Mavs will come away with Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and they'll keep their $20.8M TPE to use through the trade deadline.

Pretty good get for them!

Just a complete schooling being put on by Schmitz and is numbers guys on cap management. Amazing work.