Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[DanSchwartzgan]

I saw a Chicago-based idea just now that felt both realistic and disappointing.  You get two picks out of the Bulls, but one is for taking on Patrick Williams.  The deal is Collins/Williams/Coby plus two picks for AD and either DLo or Hardy.  Dosunmu in place of White would also work, but it puts Chicago well into the tax and probably requires other tweaks.  

My presumption has always been any Chicago deal would be one center (Vuc or Collins), one guard (White or Dosunmu) and one of Huerter or Williams.  Another construct that would add value for Dallas would be Huerter AND Williams.  This does a couple of things for you.  

1.  It allows you to send back more money.  Think of it as the original Collins/Williams/Guard/Picks deal and now you are adding expiring Huerter for Caleb Martin and DLo.

2.  It gives you more expiring money to bring a third team into the mix.  Maybe there is someone out there you can pick up for expiring plus one of the Chicago picks.  

Another idea would be getting Vuc instead of Collins (Williams stays in Chicago) and you can now trade Gafford.  I get that few like the Kuminga for Gafford idea, but adding him to this makes it appear you are getting more value for AD than just some middling future firsts.  One version of this would be:

Bulls get Davis, Exum and a minimum from GSW
Dallas gets Kuminga, Vuc and Dosunmu plus expiring Huerter and Chicago's 2027 pick.
Warriors get Gafford and Caleb Martin plus the protected Portland pick that Chicago has.

No one has to cut anyone.  Chicago stays under the tax by $1.9m, Dallas is under the first apron by $1.6mm and GSW stays under the second apron by $1.4mm.   

Our center rotation still needs work, but is at least functional in the near term with Vuc and Lively.

Forwards are Flagg, Kuminga, PJ and Naji (you trade someone this summer)

Guards are Kyrie, A-yo-D, Max Christie and Klay (for now).

And you are back to having at least one pick in every draft (two in 2029) even if several are tied to swaps with some of the best teams in the league).