Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[mvossman]

It´s not Plan Powder. It would be Plan Powder, if we kept AD, re-signed Middleton and added some washed veterans on multi year deals, then went to Jokic and said want to play here for 20M. It´s simply Plan All Options. They won´t deal Washington/Gafford now, unless it´s a no brainer deal, cause they operate on so many different timelines. Does Toronto say no to a S&T Christie + Aldama for Barrett next summer? I don´t think so, if Barrett wants to play for Masai again.

Kyrie
Barrett
Flagg
Washington
Gafford

is not a bad upgrade to the starting five.

Plan powder was about having enough cap space to sign a big free agent.  I'm not sure what your example has to do with cap space?

[Chicagojk]

@UnderdogNBA
Updates from @shamscharania:

- Heat, Nuggets, Cavs among teams interested in DeMar DeRozan
- Heat among "several championship contending teams" monitoring Klay Thompson's status
- Lakers, Cavs remain interested in sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga

It is tricky to find a landing spot with Klay.  Even with an expiring 17 million salary.  Although, if teams are interested, it does increase the liklihood of finding something.  This new organization have already proven they can be creative.    I mean we are looking for a small asset back.  Nothing to break the bank, but it would be nice if they found a way to get Klay to a better spot and also get a small tip back.

[Smitty]

It is tricky to find a landing spot with Klay.  Even with an expiring 17 million salary.  Although, if teams are interested, it does increase the liklihood of finding something.  This new organization have already proven they can be creative.    I mean we are looking for a small asset back.  Nothing to break the bank, but it would be nice if they found a way to get Klay to a better spot and also get a small tip back.

They can take a big swing on a young guy that might have an albatross contract if he doesn't rebound from his poor play last year.

DAL: Braun + '29 FRP
DEN: Thompson

Denver owes a FRP to OKC next year. It's top-5 protected. But once it conveys (we all assume it will), that makes '29 or '30 tradeable. At least that's how I read their future draft pick situation. So, it will have to have some language, if they are to trade a first.

This move saves DEN $4M this year and gets off the long-term Braun money, that they can use to keep Watson?

Here's an old tweet from Mike: https://x.com/Mike_Schmitz/status/152438...93317?s=20

They would have to really like Braun...

[Scott41theMavs]

We can poo-poo (or sour grapes, since many seem to think they wouldn't do it) the Warriors trade all we want, but the fact of the matter is that the Mavs need to clear a roster spot, if not two, if not three. If this isn't the way, I wonder what is.

Re: Chicago's mention of Scoot: I'm convinced that this would have already happened were the Mavs interested - either that, or they are monitoring other possibilities.

Re: Klay: I will be fairly deeply annoyed if they buy him out, but will trust that they left no stone unturned and came to the conclusion that that was the best decision for the Mavs' organization (PR, doing Klay a solid).

One question about Klay (especially for Dan and Gump) - if we do buy out Klay, is the money we don't pay him subtracted from this year's payroll for soft cap/tax/apron purposes? If so, that would be another reason to buy him out; if not, since his whole salary would be dead money on the books which we then couldn't trade away, that would make me dig in several times over on being opposed to buying him out.

[windjc]

None of these trades interest me. Some like Jrue make no sense on any timeline and the only reason to do it try to squeeze out 5 more wins next year or something.

The infatuation with Yaxel on here since summer league is hilarious.Recency bias at its finest. No one talked about him in the draft and now people want to give up 2 starters and Klay for him. lol

Others like the one from Denver are at best improvements around the margins maybe.

Can’t wait to see how the team unfolds over next 12 months.

[F Gump]

The only players absolutely on the books, even as soon as next season, are: PJW, Gafford, Flagg, Morez, and Sergio. Everyone else has options (Player/Team) or is a FA (Restricted/Unrestricted).

This ^ leaves an impression that there is likely to be "massive cap room, few roster spots filled" as we enter next summer, and to me that looks VERY unlikely,

You have 5 above. At least a few, and perhaps most, of the 6 options (7 if you count Cisse's NG year) are likely to be exercised, and a declined option doesn't mean the player leaves - some or most may be re-signed. 

Klay will definitely be a UFA, Naji too, but Lively and Sasser will be RFA with a decent chance of being retained. IF you have about the same roster only without Klay/Naji, that only loses 26M in salary. After other raises kick in, they would still be over the cap with the rest.

Yes, they CAN hack and slice the roster, where they have a barebones crew that remains, but just doesn't seem likely to me at all.

[cow]

They can take a big swing on a young guy that might have an albatross contract if he doesn't rebound from his poor play last year.

DAL: Braun + '29 FRP
DEN: Thompson

Denver owes a FRP to OKC next year. It's top-5 protected. But once it conveys (we all assume it will), that makes '29 or '30 tradeable. At least that's how I read their future draft pick situation. So, it will have to have some language, if they are to trade a first.

This move saves DEN $4M this year and gets off the long-term Braun money, that they can use to keep Watson?

Here's an old tweet from Mike: https://x.com/Mike_Schmitz/status/152438...93317?s=20

They would have to really like Braun...

I've mentioned Braun here a lot in the past, just for the Ujiri/Nuggets connection.  I kind of like the idea of Braun reclamation project, but it is super dangerous as very few players create the gravity that Joker does so returning back to form is a steeper uphill battle for him.

[F Gump]

They can take a big swing on a young guy that might have an albatross contract if he doesn't rebound from his poor play last year.

DAL: Braun + '29 FRP
DEN: Thompson

IMO doesn't work, because it doesn't solve anything for Mavs. Mavs only have < 3M in space to offer, and DEN will be looking for way more while Mavs won't want to go into tax land for Braun of all people. And it doesn't solve the need to gain another roster space at all -- in fact, makes it harder because the bailout move of waiving Klay is replaced by massive money owed.

[Scott41theMavs]

IMO doesn't work, because it doesn't solve anything for Mavs. Mavs only have < 3M in space to offer, and DEN will be looking for way more while Mavs won't want to go into tax land for Braun of all people. And it doesn't solve the need to gain another roster space at all -- in fact, makes it harder because the bailout move of waiving Klay is replaced by massive money owed.

So a buyout does not reduce his cap hit? If that's the case, then, I'm out. (and, to be honest, I've been out forever, but now I am profoundly out)
Edit: see below

[F Gump]

One question about Klay (especially for Dan and Gump) - if we do buy out Klay, is the money we don't pay him subtracted from this year's payroll for soft cap/tax/apron purposes? If so, that would be another reason to buy him out; if not, since his whole salary would be dead money on the books which we then couldn't trade away, that would make me dig in several times over on being opposed to buying him out.

If Klay is bought out (ie, paid a reduced salary in exchange for being able to e a FA), then it's the reduced amount he is paid that continues to be on the books. (Same is true if there is no reduction, of course.) I would assume it would not be stretched, but rather just be accounted on this year.

[Scott41theMavs]

If Klay is bought out (ie, paid a reduced salary in exchange for being able to e a FA), then it's the reduced amount he is paid that continues to be on the books. (Same is true if there is no reduction, of course.) I would assume it would not be stretched, but rather just be accounted on this year.

Oh, OK. Well, ignore what I said earlier.

[Smitty]

IMO doesn't work, because it doesn't solve anything for Mavs. Mavs only have < 3M in space to offer, and DEN will be looking for way more while Mavs won't want to go into tax land for Braun of all people. And it doesn't solve the need to gain another roster space at all -- in fact, makes it harder because the bailout move of waiving Klay is replaced by massive money owed.

Thats why I said they would have to really like Braun…

[Chicagojk]

They can take a big swing on a young guy that might have an albatross contract if he doesn't rebound from his poor play last year.

DAL: Braun + '29 FRP
DEN: Thompson

Denver owes a FRP to OKC next year. It's top-5 protected. But once it conveys (we all assume it will), that makes '29 or '30 tradeable. At least that's how I read their future draft pick situation. So, it will have to have some language, if they are to trade a first.

This move saves DEN $4M this year and gets off the long-term Braun money, that they can use to keep Watson?

Here's an old tweet from Mike: https://x.com/Mike_Schmitz/status/152438...93317?s=20

They would have to really like Braun...

Doesn't a first seem too much just to get Thompson?  I have no idea what Denver is doing so it is difficult to predict.  It appears they may be using the restricted FA to really corner Watson.    

I could see Braun bouncing back.   My issue is if he does bounce back, he is probably only slightly overpaid.     If he only improves a little or stays the same he is grossly overpaid.  I am not a fan of taking on contracts where the upside is he is only slightly overpaid.    So I would pass on this.    
I just don't know what Denver does though.

[cow]

IMO doesn't work, because it doesn't solve anything for Mavs. Mavs only have < 3M in space to offer, and DEN will be looking for way more while Mavs won't want to go into tax land for Braun of all people. And it doesn't solve the need to gain another roster space at all -- in fact, makes it harder because the bailout move of waiving Klay is replaced by massive money owed.

Financials aside, and that's huge, it does fill a hole at the guard spot which is sorely needed so it would solve something for the Mavs but you'd probably need to involve other teams to get around the challenges you mentioned.

[OldMavsFan]

What happens to all of the Warriors trade talk, if they trade Curry to the Raptors for Quickley and Barrett and some first round picks.  I  would guess Butler will be trade if possible and then who will snag Green?  The question will be if they blow  it up will they take a long approach and build through the draft or add players like PJ and other other good players.  I would guess if Curry goes then Klay isn't likely be one of their targets.

It really could be a wild next two months for the league.

[KillerLeft]

What happens to all of the Warriors trade talk, if they trade Curry to the Raptors for Quickley and Barrett and some first round picks.  I  would guess Butler will be trade if possible and then who will snag Green?  The question will be if they blow  it up will they take a long approach and build through the draft or add players like PJ and other other good players.  I would guess if Curry goes then Klay isn't likely be one of their targets.

It really could be a wild next two months for the league.

I have low-key been wondering lately if we might be headed for a curry trade pretty soon. Sacrilegious, I know, but they just don’t seem interested in building another team around him. They are holding onto those future draft picks like gold nuggets.

[cow]

I have low-key been wondering lately if we might be headed for a curry trade pretty soon. Sacrilegious, I know, but they just don’t seem interested in building another team around him. They are holding onto those future draft picks like gold nuggets.

I'm guessing they'll work out an extension with him after 8/29.  I don't see a divorce happening as it would be hard to find a contending team that could trade for or absorb that much salary.

[KillerLeft]

I'm guessing they'll work out an extension with him after 8/29.  I don't see a divorce happening as it would be hard to find a contending team that could trade for or absorb that much salary.

It would be hard for sure. Just saying though, for the camp that really, really wants Dallas to contend this year...that might do it.

[Chicagojk]

So is Houston going to do anything? That team seemed off last year. They get FVV back but it is hard to think he changes this much. They took a step back last year and look like they could be in tier 3 in the west.

Do they make an aggressive move, take a step back to build around their youth or stay status quo? It would be surprising if they don’t do anything right?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

James’s Sixers are expected to get the maximum 34 national game telecasts/streams across Disney’s ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports/Peacock, and Amazon’s Prime Video during the upcoming NBA season, say sources. That would more than double the 14 national games that Joel Embiid’s team was featured in during the 2025-6 campaign.

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