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

[F Gump]

Now, if we can get Trae added for salary and we flip him in a 3 way for more picks.  I'm sold.  But it appears no one wants Trae.

ATL really wants to move Trae ... and no one wants him ... but would you take him in this trade? I might. I'm not sure..It barely gets me to the "minimum" value I would expect for AD, but I think it gets there. 

Upside: Trae is younger. His value might get better. (Kidd is really good with PG's.) He might create much-needed offense. The pick should add a young player to go with Flagg. The cap situation improves a bit (depending on where the picks would fall). Risacher might end up decent (although so far he's very iffy).

But many potential downside things to consider: Gotta swallow this season and one more of Trae's contract. The big men and defense become a potential weakness rather than strength, with AD gone and Young instead, Lively's health so iffy, and the desire to trade Gaff for Mathurin (I assume that would not happen, if AD was traded).

The trade:

AD - Hardy - Exum
FOR
Trae - Risacher - NO 2026 1st -might also need a 2nd