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

[mvossman]

"I think if that is the kind of return you are looking for then you are never going to trade AD (which I think is a mistake)."

I think Dan spoke to this well. Opinions on what Davis could/should return are all over the place. It's safe to say we have different opinions. I will try to simplify what I think he should net you in-season. Expiring OR good player + young player + FRP(s). The picks depend on the other two. If it's just an expiring contract (filler) and a meh young player, then the higher/better pick package. The deal with ATL is fairly simple for me to show that value. Someone like Toronto, not so much. I don't know if 5 FRP's would make me like the players that would have to be included. (I can admit, I'm not a huge fan of just getting a bunch of picks anyway). Chicago is also easy to show where I'm at in terms of value. Detroit, I struggle with but can find something that works.

"You said that if we trade for that pick we don't have to worry about tanking for our own."

All I mean is that you've secured a lotto pick that has a high chance to be top 10 already. It allows you to keep your options open later into the season on if/when you need to start intentionally trying to lose games. IF you only had the one pick (your own), it doesn't offer the same flexibility. I think the difference between pick 13 and pick 15, 16, 17 is not all that significant. You can just play the season out and know that you have a lotto pick and your own pick, wherever it falls (13-17).

I agree nobody knows what his value is.  I think you are higher than most.  Personally I would rather a trade happens that we might think is an underwhelming return (but still a tangible net positive for the future) than no trade and the possibility of an extension (I am not arguing this should be the FO mindset).

I don't think landing NOP pick should have any effect on how we approach our own pick.  Getting a second lottery pick would be huge.  I would also argue there is a significant difference between 13 and 15.  Its only 5% chance to get a top 4 pick, but how much more valuable is a top 4 than a 15?