Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[F Gump]

The reporting sequence on the trade stories obscured this ....

... but the SNT contract for Middleton was almost certainly made to be the exact right size to make "Middleton + Johnson" match Aldama. Not a coincidence, but an exact number or very close to it.

[Moviemavguy]

Clever deal...not they gotta actually do something with the TPE and or MLE.

[Smitty]

The reporting sequence on the trade stories obscured this ....

... but the SNT contract for Middleton was almost certainly made to be the exact right size to make "Middleton + Johnson" match Aldama. Not a coincidence, but an exact number or very close to it.

That seemed kind of obvious. The odd part is why the Mavs are the ones sending a SRP to Washington for the right to make it a SnT, to preserve the AD TPE. Surely, there’s a use for it now? They wouldn’t pay a SRP to preserve it and not use it…

[DanSchwartzgan]

I dont have time to figure out the math details. But since everyone is talking about the TPE being retained, I guess that is their chosen path. 

However, if it's not yet known, it needs to be pointed out that the MLE might be more desirable to retain. While a bit smaller, they may not want to use the bigger amount anyhow, to stay below the tax line. And the MLE is way more usable, since it can be used BOTH to sign players or trade for players. (OTOH a TPE can only be used for a trade, which means you always would need the cooperation of another team.)

I’m a little late to the party.  Interesting bit of work.  I thought they might send out some salary as a way of preserving the TPE, but never imagined something like this.

You raise an interesting point.  Biberovic has to come out of some exception as he makes more than the minimum.  Is that something that gets designated when he is signed?  Can it be changed later if they want to do something different.  They seemingly spent a second to do the Middleton MLE (I think you rightly point out that they probably nailed the needed amount of money here).  It would seem maintaining the TPE might be the priority over maintaining the MLE, but I could certainly be wrong.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/keithsmithnba/status/20746...27537?s=61

[KillerLeft]

https://x.com/keithsmithnba/status/20746...27537?s=61

Wooooo! Bieber fever!

[KillerLeft]

That seemed kind of obvious. The odd part is why the Mavs are the ones sending a SRP to Washington for the right to make it a SnT, to preserve the AD TPE. Surely, there’s a use for it now? They wouldn’t pay a SRP to preserve it and not use it…

Ok, I buy this. Let's pull this thread for a second, then. Who are the teams still trying to shed salary? What players might be available due to this circumstance?

[Smitty]

Some math:

About $16.5m from the Tax Line. Which they can surpass obviously.

~$12.1m of the MLE remaining.
~$21m of the AD TPE remaining.
~$23.7m below the A1 hard cap

[KillerLeft]

Stein on DLLS Mavs doubling down on 2 years, $6 million for Biberovic, but also saying he doesn't expect it to get lowered to something absorbable via BAE.

I think, best case scenario, $3 million of the MLE is about to get used for him. Maybe more.

[Smitty]

Ok, I buy this. Let's pull this thread for a second, then. Who are the teams still trying to shed salary? What players might be available due to this circumstance?

Miami and Jovic? Monk? Those two come to mind. Then the CLE guys. Schroeder and Strus.

[windjc]

Miami and Jovic? Monk? Those two come to mind. Then the CLE guys. Schroeder and Strus.

We just watched Monk shrink down to nothing on the largest stage. As a fan interested in championships, no thanks.

[Mavs03]

Any chance Dallas gets involved in acquiring Peyton Watson? Particularly with the news that the AD Trade exception is still fully intact ($20.8 million) after the Aldama, Sasser and Biberovic acquisition. I know Denver can match any offer, but with the Nuggets current cap situation and avoiding the 2nd apron, it will be hard for Denver to retain Watson.

I think Watson would be perfect in Dallas

[DallasMaverick]

On the one hand, if he ends up being rotation-worthy, $7 mil AAV is a bargain. On the other, if we can/did use the BAE on him, then we still have that phat exception *and* the NTMLE.

About the same as Jaden Hardy.

[KillerLeft]

Miami and Jovic? Monk? Those two come to mind. Then the CLE guys. Schroeder and Strus.

It wouldn't fall under the "25 and under" trend I've been enjoying all summer, but I'd take Strus and a 2nd for sure.

[KillerLeft]

Any chance Dallas gets involved in acquiring Peyton Watson?  Particularly with the news that the AD Trade exception is still fully intact ($20.8 million) after the Aldama, Sasser and Biberovic acquisition.  I know Denver can match any offer, but with the Nuggets current cap situation and avoiding the 2nd apron, it will be hard for Denver to retain Watson.

I think Watson would be perfect in Dallas

I don't know if Dallas goes after him, but I can see them absorbing Cam Johnson so Denver can sign him.

[F Gump]

I’m a little late to the party.  Interesting bit of work.  I thought they might send out some salary as a way of preserving the TPE, but never imagined something like this.

You raise an interesting point.  Biberovic has to come out of some exception as he makes more than the minimum.  Is that something that gets designated when he is signed?  Can it be changed later if they want to do something different.  They seemingly spent a second to do the Middleton MLE (I think you rightly point out that they probably nailed the needed amount of money here).  It would seem maintaining the TPE might be the priority over maintaining the MLE, but I could certainly be wrong.

Yes Tarik has to come out of an exception, but IT CAN'T BE A TPE. Yes it has to be designated when submitted. 

How does it all fit together? I dunno. Not enough hard info. Re Tarik, we don't know his contract for sure, because the numbers were so oddly reported. The precise answer might change what's doable. And there's a 2nd Round Exception which may or may not be big enough to somehow fit his deal.

If I'm following the numbers correctly, I see 2 possible outcomes:
1 They could have Sasser using part of the TPE, with Tarik coming out of the BAE. That would leave the 15M MLE plus about 15M of the TPE. 
2 Or Sasser uses the BAE, and Tarik is part of the MLE. That leaves the entire 20M TPE plus maybe 10M of the MLE.

[Scott41theMavs]

Roster crunch (7 July update):

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
13) Aldama
14) Sasser
15) Tarik

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

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

There is probably no longer a crunch, per se - but still thinking they have a deal or two up their sleeves coming up. Five mouths to feed for three two-way slots (presuming Ishchenko doesn't make the main roster). My bet is a two-for-one, + another deal using the TPE, and that Tyler and Poulakidas are let go in favor of Ishchenko and Cisse making the two-way slots. Sorry, cow.

[F Gump]

I don't know if Dallas goes after him, but I can see them absorbing Cam Johnson so Denver can sign him.

How would DAL absorb Johnson? His salary is too big for the TPE.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Some math:

About $16.5m from the Tax Line. Which they can surpass obviously.

~$12.1m of the MLE remaining.
~$21m of the AD TPE remaining.
~$23.7m below the A1 hard cap

This seems to be right.  I do wonder if possibly the Biberovic deal was ever so slightly lower and fit into the Hardy exception or what is left of it.  Someone (I believe it was CBA Mavs) showed it to be just a few thousand less than what Spotrac is carrying Biber at.

With all that said, there isn't an imperative to use the TPE now.  We have 15 players and could use it closer to the trade deadline.  Not as fun to think about as a Watson S&T.  Would we give up Naji plus the Laker pick in 2029?  He'd be an interesting addition and very likely better than anything we'd get with that pick (and a better 3 point shooter than Naji will ever be).

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
If I'm following the numbers correctly, I see 2 possible outcomes:
1 They could have Sasser using part of the TPE, with Tarik coming out of the BAE. That would leave the 15M MLE plus about 15M of the TPE. 
2 Or Sasser uses the BAE, and Tarik is part of the MLE. That leaves the entire 20M TPE plus maybe 10M of the MLE.

More like $12mm, right?  $15-$3.

Thanks for all of the other info.