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

[Mavs2021]

Garland/Allen/Cavs 2026 pick for AD/Klay/Hardy would be very interesting. Reading a bit between the lines here it seems Mitchell has a lot of pull, Cavs are underperforming, Garland/Allen are injured. That seems like a team that is impatient and in turmoil, which could be taken advantage of. I´d bet on Garland and Allen easily. Allen has been very healthy throughout his career and Garland´s shooting slump is 12 games old. I think I can bet on the previous four years being his real self. Obviously you then have to turn around and trade Gafford + Russell (or Lively) for a Simons + 1st round pick. 

If we came away with

Garland 42/Nembhard 3
Irving 39/Christie 8
Flagg14 / Martin 10
Washington 20/Marshall 10
Allen 28/Lively 7

Mavs 2026 pick
Cavs 2026 pick
Boston 2026 pick

181M + 3 rookies (15-20M) + 2 players (exceptions)
2nd apron is 223M.

Get younger, but also stay competitive for the near future. This is also be an easy tank path, since you can shut down Kyrie/Garland/JA/Washington for the year and there won´t be any age or contract pressure. They all just got their new contracts set to kick in. You should be able to stay under the 2nd apron easily, too.

This is like a best case scenario. Tank. Get three picks. Get serious talent in their prime and manage your cap going forward. This is the new pipe dream.