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

[F Gump]

I've been having to work between the Fanspo Trade Checker and the Spotrac Trade Checker to get a full picture of what works/doesn't work.  Unfortunately, they disagree about Atlanta's payroll.  Both sites have already moved players to their new teams.  Fanspo still has the number at $8.3mm under the tax.  Spotrac has it at $6.78mm.  Most of the difference appears to be some second rounder from 2024 named Nikola Djurisic.  He makes $1.272mm this year and Fanspo doesn't show him on Atlanta's roster at all.  

Atlanta does have four guys at the end of their roster who are either non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed.  But, it doesn't appear they did anything by yesterday to move off of any of them.  

I thought the possibilities of an AD deal that keeps Atlanta under the tax were tight when I was using the Fanspo number.  But, if it's the smaller one Spotrac number (which I fear is true), this gets even more challenging once the Trae deal becomes official.  It kind of lends credence to what Killer has said about why they might be holding this open.  If deadlines make deals, Atlanta may have created a deadline.

Spotrac salary total for ATL is 180,866,975. 
ESPN (trade machine) has the exact same number. 

That puts them a hair more than 7.0M below the 187,895,000 tax line, yes?

Obviously the trade must include AD on one side, and KP-Risacher-Kennard on the other to get the deal close, and then the Mavs add 2 players (or less) whose salaries won't take ATL over the tax line. The amount that can fit in there is about 6.225M.

IMO the best choice for the Mavs to fill that space is Hardy. That also helps next year payroll. The Powell-Exum combo is a way to fit in 2 players, but is worse for DAL because they then have no one left to waive for Nemby, and must cut much more salary (and a better player) instead. And there may be potential value available in offering to swap Kennard and/or KP to a contending team at the TDL (or sooner) for an expiring contract and a pick.

NO #1, later FRP, KP-R-Kennard
AD, Hardy