Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

@Baxter
NEWS: The NBA investigation into whether the LA Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard could drag into 2027 if the parties don’t agree on the findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, sources tell ESPN.

This is WILD.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

"if the parties don't agree on the findings"

the hell does that mean? The Clippers have to agree with the NBA investigations findings?

[KillerLeft]

"if the parties don't agree on the findings"

the hell does that mean?  The Clippers have to agree with the NBA investigations findings?

I think it's about whether or not Balmer accepts punishment without a fight. It's possible this leak is even a sort of threat to him about that. That's what I got out of it, anyway.

[ballsrchr]

@Baxter
NEWS: The NBA investigation into whether the LA Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard could drag into 2027 if the parties don’t agree on the findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, sources tell ESPN.

This investigation should only take about 15...minutes.

[F Gump]

All that just feeds the argument you're arguing against - what if they don't fit, in some sense, right now?

The Mavs would never (and should never) answer the question of how they value their own players, but we can observe what they seem to be doing. If you want one of those guys, reports say they will sell them, but only for a strong price. There has never been any indication that they are pricing them in a way to try to move them.

[F Gump]

You are not concerned about having negative assets clogging up the cap sheet for 3 or 4 years?  That seems like a crazy take.

"You are not concerned about having negative assets clogging up the cap sheet for 3 or 4 years?" ---  Not by YOUR definition of "negative assets" which was mostly or entirely based on what trade value the player has.

For me (as I said before, verbatim), all that really matters is whether you have players who can start and play well, and fit your roster. If THOSE become an issue, then it's a different matter of course, and of course you want to make a trade. But if you have players who are very useful to what you are doing, but want to act out of a fear that they might not be sellable somewhere down the road, perhaps, that to me is the wrong approach.

[F Gump]

"if the parties don't agree on the findings"

the hell does that mean?  The Clippers have to agree with the NBA investigations findings?

That quote is about the timeline it would take for this to end. 

One MAJOR factor is that when the investigators end their search, they don't make the decision on what to do. They just forward it to Silver, and if there is evidence of wrongdoing that he wants punished, there is (1) a hearing, with the evidence subject to being challenged, ending in a decision, and (2) any decision can be appealed. The hearing, and the appeal, add quite a bit of time to the timeline, but (the quote above) it gets shortened if they decide not to contest it.

While "not contesting it" seems unlikely in the normal course of things, here it's possible to happen, because neither Kawhi nor LAC want to be left in limbo, I wouldn't think, as the season is already going, still uncertain where he plays (or if he doesn't play at all). Of course, if one or both think they are getting unfairly screwed, it certainly would go all the way.

But in any event, the investigators have to find evidence THAT WILL HOLD UP WHEN CHALLENGED, which takes much longer (and much stronger evidence) - or they can just say "never mind" at any time, of course. But I'm guessing what is dragging it out is that they have some weak evidence, or not enough, but too much to just drop it. So it continues.

[Jmaciscool]

That quote is about the timeline it would take for this to end. 

One MAJOR factor is that when the investigators end their search, they don't make the decision on what to do. They just forward it to Silver, and if there is evidence of wrongdoing that he wants punished, there is (1) a hearing, with the evidence subject to being challenged, ending in a decision, and (2) any decision can be appealed. The hearing, and the appeal, add quite a bit of time to the timeline, but (the quote above) it gets shortened if they decide not to contest it.

While "not contesting it" seems unlikely in the normal course of things, here it's possible to happen, because neither Kawhi nor LAC want to be left in limbo, I wouldn't think, as the season is already going, still uncertain where he plays (or if he doesn't play at all). Of course, if one or both think they are getting unfairly screwed, it certainly would go all the way.

But in any event, the investigators have to find evidence THAT WILL HOLD UP WHEN CHALLENGED, which takes much longer (and much stronger evidence) - or they can just say "never mind" at any time, of course. But I'm guessing what is dragging it out is that they have some weak evidence, or not enough, but too much to just drop it. So it continues.

Hmmm...that does sound like a found too much to be innocent but not enough to be guilty situation.

[Scott41theMavs]

Hmmm...that does sound like a found too much to be innocent but not enough to be guilty situation.

I agree with you and Gump on this, and if that's the case, just give 'em a little love tap on wrist and let the rest of the league (especially the Raptors) move on with their lives.

[cow]

I think it's about whether or not Balmer accepts punishment without a fight. It's possible this leak is even a sort of threat to him about that. That's what I got out of it, anyway.

Yep.  Finding a penalty that the general public thinks/feels is way more damaging than it actually is which makes it more palatable than it is just.

[mvossman]

"You are not concerned about having negative assets clogging up the cap sheet for 3 or 4 years?" ---  Not by YOUR definition of "negative assets" which was mostly or entirely based on what trade value the player has.

For me (as I said before, verbatim), all that really matters is whether you have players who can start and play well, and fit your roster. If THOSE become an issue, then it's a different matter of course, and of course you want to make a trade. But if you have players who are very useful to what you are doing, but want to act out of a fear that they might not be sellable somewhere down the road, perhaps, that to me is the wrong approach.

I mean that is the definition of a negative asset.  The rest of my post (which you didn't bother to include) questions whether they are useful to what they are currently doing so I don't know why you keep responding like my only "fear" is future sellable status.

[Moviemavguy]

I agree with you and Gump on this, and if that's the case, just give 'em a little love tap on wrist and let the rest of the league (especially the Raptors) move on with their lives.

Silver is pretty much in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.  But he needs to see the bigger picture.  Balmer is one owner.  If Silver plays this wrong, then the whole league could be in trouble.  

Kinda weird how many people and especially the commish don't realize how serious this situation is.  

It took one random podcaster to pretty easily blow this thing open.  If they do a slap on the wrist, then there will be 100 Pablo Torres by the end of the year.

[F Gump]

I mean that is the definition of a negative asset.  The rest of my post (which you didn't bother to include) questions whether they are useful to what they are currently doing so I don't know why you keep responding like my only "fear" is future sellable status.

You're not reading my replies [plural]. 

I responded to your fear issue because that was the entire premise of the conversation to me --  you defined a negative asset being a player where it looks like his contract will be a bit bigger in relation to the theoretical contract-size market going down in the future (ie changing salary sizes for players). It wasn't a question about his actual oncourt play. 

Nevertheless, although I didn't quote more, I did speak to that oncourt question as well. Go look. In EVERY post about assessing whether you need to move on from a player you already have, on a multi-year deal, I said (in determining whether to keep, or try to get rid of) "all that really matters is whether you have players who can start and play well, and fit your roster." This was never a discussion of a player who you don't want in the lineup, and the idea of their oncourt usefulness was never really any disagreement (because I always said if the player ISN'T USEFUL, then you certainly need to consider moving on.)

EDITED TO ADD - BTW, the reason you don't cash in and rebuy someone else is because when you sell into a declining market, (1) you get pennies on the dollar for what you are selling, and then you have less to use to buy back someone as good as what you had, and (2) you have no assurance you can even get the player you want. Smarter to keep what you have in the first place, if he's giving you the type of play you wanted. In total, you are looking for players who can play well, and who fit your roster, so when you have them, keep them -- AGAIN,  "all that really matters is whether you have players who can start and play well, and fit your roster."

[Chicagojk]

This is the time of year, with a few exceptions, where fanbases all like their teams.    Most team fanbases are positive right now.    Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Scott41theMavs]

This is the time of year, with a few exceptions, where fanbases all like their teams.    Most team fanbases are positive right now.    Enjoy it while it lasts.

I love the moves that M&M have made, but I don’t love the roster. I need for them, prior to training camp, to make a couple of trades that 1) bring back a guard with some creational abilities, and 2) make room for not only Cisse but also Seva, presuming they aren’t able to finagle the complications of signing him to a two-way (replacing Poulakidas).

[FireNicoHarrison]

This is the time of year, with a few exceptions, where fanbases all like their teams.    Most team fanbases are positive right now.    Enjoy it while it lasts.

Do you wanna compare this year to last year "big lineups rocks"?

Finally we can see the end of the tunnel...

[Chicagojk]

I love the moves that M&M have made, but I don’t love the roster. I need for them, prior to training camp, to make a couple of trades that 1) bring back a guard with some creational abilities, and 2) make room for not only Cisse but also Seva, presuming they aren’t able to finagle the complications of signing him to a two-way (replacing Poulakidas).

They just feel 1 too many at the 3 and the 4.  Even with positionless basketball.   I am even assuming that Lively is slowly brought back in too.

PF you have PJ, Aldama, and Morez.   Aldama is flexibility to play different roles but with the log jam at 3 it makes it tough.   Morez is the future, PJ has been here for a while and Aldama is someone they traded for.

SF you have Coop getting the majority of the minutes.    Marshall is in a contract year and won't be happy with diminished minutes.  Risacher is another person they are betting on and traded for this summer.

I am not even listing Tarek or Klay here either.   Injuries will spread things around, but it just seems like there are an extra two guys who all expect solid minutes.   Not sure how they fit everyone in

[HoosierDaddyKid]

LeBron James and ESPN are closing in on an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary series that will be similar to Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance,” according to industry sources granted anonymity as they were not authorized to talk about the deal that is not finalized. One of the sources described the talks as being at the “one-yard line,” with the expectation that James, 41, will have a camera crew documenting his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom James signed this month. The 76ers are expected to be the final home of his legendary career. For James’ documentary, there is no set date for when it will be completed and air. ESPN and a representative for James declined to comment. James recently signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, looking to win his fifth championship in the NBA.

New York Times

[Smitty]

2) make room for not only Cisse but also Seva, presuming they aren’t able to finagle the complications of signing him to a two-way (replacing Poulakidas).

That is a tough one for me... Seva and Poulakidas provide 2 completely different things for this team, if either are in the long-term plans. One is an elite movement shooter, that doesn't provide much else so far. The other a ballhandler, jack of all trades -- master of none type.

For all the hype (rightfully so) of Tarik being added as an elite shooter (much needed). How is it that we're so quick to dismiss Poulakidas?

He's 6'6 -- SG/SF size. 23 years old and shot 40% on 6 threes/gm in just 20 minutes per in the actual NBA last season. He's bulked up a ton and has been mentioned more than once in press conferences. He checks every box the guys they brought in do...
In the G-League last year he shot 46% from 3PT on nearly 9 attempts per game. 31 mpg.

For comparison, Tarik is a career 42.3% 3PT shooter on 3.5 3PA/g. His last 3 seasons have been incredible though! In 172 international games he's shot 43.6% on 777 attempts. That's 4.5 3PA/g, in just 19 mpg.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kawhi's odds of playing for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2026-27 have jumped from 8.5% to 29.1% in the past 6 hours on Polymarket, a 20.6-point move.

HoopsMatic