01-05-2026, 10:48 AM
(01-05-2026, 10:14 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: What is becoming clear to me is we have to figure out the Trae part of this before we can know what the rest of this looks like. One thing I've learned about Stein in recent years is when things happen, he can often (and will often) trace the outcome back to things he's said and/or written. "As I've said for several weeks now"....fill in the blank.
He's said Atlanta can't afford expiring deals for AD. Therefore Trae has to go (not to Dallas, but he has to go somewhere in the deal with Dallas getting stuff back from the third team).
He's said Risacher isn't available (except in the 'right' scenario). To me, this argues the point above has to be satisfied AND Atlanta considers Risacher as a premium element to any trade (so you aren't getting the NO pick in 2026). Stein also alludes that Atlanta would prefer to deal Risacher in the off-season. I don't think he's that important to their playoff hopes, so this may be an appeal for someone like Marshall to provide a replacement for the role ZR plays in the Hawk's lineup.
Stein has said Jalen Johnson and the NO pick in 2026 are off limits. We should probably take him at his word on this.
He has said that Gafford has the most robust trade market of any Mav.
He has also said Rich Paul has a direct line to Dumont. It doesn't mean Paul gets to design the deal, but he will have influence. Paul was fairly clearly the architect last year in working with Chicago to move on from Lonzo and LaVine. His client Brandon Ingram also moved in a 2025 TDL deal as did De'Aron Fox. If you want to look at other Paul clients who might fit here, there is Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine, Darius Garland (too small), Moses Moody (and Draymond), Collin Sexton and Scoot Henderson (and Grant). He's also the agent for Lively who we will have to work with soon on an extension.
I say all of that to say that we should probably stop dreaming of the 2026 NO pick and should start looking for homes for Trae Young and how those homes might have someone Dallas wants. If that player happens to also be a Klutch client, then all the better in terms of being predictive of what is likely to happen. Someone already identified Sacramento and LaVine. I personally feel like Murray is the better fit here with Kyrie (and helps the tank). If proximity to an extension matters (and it probably does), then don't count our Scoot Henderson. It also wouldn't shock me to see Moody involved in something that sends Gafford to GSW. I personally think Dallas will be more about players than picks as they will want to turn things around fairly quickly, but that is a personal opinion and not something I've gotten from Stein.
I like Murray better than Lavine, but the extra year scares me.
I like Moody, but he seems injury prone.
Garland is small, but I would love him on this team. Don't see how that could happen though.