Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Indeed, the Spurs re-signing little-used Jordan McLaughlin to a one-year, $3.2 million contract to return as a reliable fourth guard insurance policy was a feel-good moment for all the players and members of the coaching staff. "He's always ready to play," Johnson said. "He's always positive, just an amazing teammate, an amazing asset, the ultimate professional. He shows up every day. He's consistent. He never wavers. He's never rattled, and he always gives everything he's got." Said coach Mitch Johnson, "J-Mac has been great for us."

San Antonio Express-News

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: The Los Angeles Clippers are waiving guard Cam Christie, a 2024 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Christie had a $2.30 million salary guarantee date that was approaching. Christie, who recently turned 21, was the 46th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft and spent the past two seasons with the Clippers. The $2.3M salary for Christie was set to become guaranteed on Thursday. The roster is now down to 15 guaranteed contracts.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Celtics now have $108 million committed to Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta for 2029-30, more than half of their projected cap.

HoopsMatic

[JamesConway816]

Can someone explain to me why a team signs a player, then waives him almost immediately after?  I never understood that.

Happens every year at the end of training camp when the rosters are being finalized.

Teams are securing the Gleague rights to players by having them on the roster briefly before waiving them again.

[Winter]

The Knicks are going to waive Eubanks due to injury. He was vying for the third center spot. That means they may still be open to Cisse ... in which case the Mavs may still be in trading mode.

[Moviemavguy]

The Knicks are going to waive Eubanks due to injury. He was vying for the third center spot. That means they may still be open to Cisse ... in which case the Mavs may still be in trading mode.

Why would the Mavs trade Cisse?  Lively is hurt, Morez is hurt, Gaf almost always gets hurt.  No reason to do that.

[Winter]

Why would the Mavs trade Cisse?  Lively is hurt, Morez is hurt, Gaf almost always gets hurt.  No reason to do that.

The Mavs have to give up a player before the regular season. Which player are you giving up?

[Chicagojk]

Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, one anonymous NBA executive identified the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers as the two teams with the clearest path to pursuing Towns if he ultimately reaches the open market.
"Only a few possible suitors stand out to me right now in terms of cap space teams and fit," the executive told Bondy. "Chicago and the Clippers have the cleanest path."
The executive also mentioned the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks as teams that could potentially create enough space, although each situation comes with complications.
"The Nets can get there with the money, but that's not a good fit," the executive added. "Golden State and Dallas could get around [$50 million] in space with more tinkering."

[F Gump]

The Knicks are going to waive Eubanks due to injury. He was vying for the third center spot. That means they may still be open to Cisse ... in which case the Mavs may still be in trading mode.

Mavs cannot trade Cisse to clear a roster spot. (He is in a no-trade window until Dec 15.) They would have to waive him, and any team (including NY) could claim him. The same is true of Powell.

[Winter]

Mavs cannot trade Cisse to clear a roster spot. (He is in a no-trade window until Dec 15.) They would have to waive him, and any team (including NY) could claim him. The same is true of Powell.

I should have known that.

[Moviemavguy]

The Mavs have to give up a player before the regular season. Which player are you giving up?

Powell's contract isn't guaranteed.  Pretty simple.

[Winter]

Powell's contract isn't guaranteed.  Pretty simple.

I don't disagree, but I don't get the feeling from the FO that it's all that simple.

[F Gump]

Powell's contract isn't guaranteed.  Pretty simple.

In this case, I don't think the money matters. I think it will come down to who the team wants the most.

Both players are min salary. Both have some guarantee, but not big money. 

SCENARIO 1 - Cisse is waived, then claimed by another team off waivers (at min salary, the ideal contract for a team that wants him). Mavs cap cost would be $0. 
SCENARIO 2 - Cisse is waived, and is not claimed. The Mavs cap cost would be $2.2M.
...But then the Mavs have a good shot at still keeping him if they want him, by signing him as a 2-way, since he would have no teams wanting him on a regular NBA deal. Of course, this means Mavs would be waiving a different 2-way player (Lawal, Poulakidis, Howard) so that's not a sure thing.
SCENARIO 3 - Powell is waived. Very unlikely he is claimed. The Mavs cap cost would be $1M.

[SleepingHero]

Underdog NBA

@UnderdogNBA
Roster crunch intel from
@JakeLFischer
:

- Lakers, Bucks have talked about Dalton Knecht for Jericho Sims trade framework, but there is pessimism that trade will go through
- Lakers could waive Knecht to get down to 15 players if not
- Bucks have talked about deals involving Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr
- Moussa Cisse is "name to potentially file away" in addition to Sims for Sixers after Ariel Hukporti injury
- Tidjane Salaun's roster spot "appears to be in the most serious jeopardy" if Hornets decide to keep Pat Connaughton
- Grizzlies exploring trade options involving GG Jackson and Walter Clayton Jr.; Micah Peavy could be waived if nothing materializes

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Grizzlies are looking to trade GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr., per @JakeLFischer

“I'm told, however, that the Grizzlies have been exploring potential trade markets for GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr. Which is quite a turn from Memphis' original stance on Clayton.”

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
Moussa Cissé is a name to watch for the Philadelphia 76ers, per @JakeLFischer


“The Mavericks' Moussa Cissé is another name to potentially file away for the Sixers after the loss to Ariel Hukporti to a season-ending Achilles tear. Cissé's availability, mind you, likely depends on what Dallas decides to do with its final roster spot.”