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

[DanSchwartzgan]

The Pistons have nearly $19M in tax space and a $14.1M TE, from the Schroder trade, that expires in July. Jaden Ivey has been underwhelming for them this year. He is a 23 year old combo guard that is a restricted free agent this summer. Would they be interested in the combination of Klay and Naji for Ivey and a FRP? Could you then make a move like Gafford for Mathurin or to ATL for Kennard + FRP, and duck the tax completely this season? I don't know that it's a requirement from Dumont, but as it stands, that repeater tax bill is massive next season.

DAL: Ivey, '27 FRP (DET)
DET: Naji, Klay

DAL: Kennard, '26 FRP (CLE)
ATL: Gafford


This would move the Mavs ~$2M below the tax line and free up a roster spot for Nembhard. The Mavs could then waive Exum at the point of needing to convert Cisse, when his two-way eligibility runs out this season.

That accomplishes a lot of interesting and helpful things.  A young guy with upside, some picks, though not particularly valuable ones (though you would now have a 2027 pick which opens up some things you can't currently do).  It saves a few bucks in 26/27 and helps you work with Cisse and Nembhard now.  Both deals feel balanced and help the teams in question without hurting our tank (since our only centers going forward for the rest of the season would be Powell and Cisse).

I wish Ivey was better on corner 3's, but he's better from deep than many of the alternatives that we discuss.  This is the first season he's ever been a positive on-court and he's now playing a role that I think fits him best (scorer off the bench).   I like that he's restricted this summer, but I don't like that his draft status makes him and his agent think he deserves a certain salary based just on that.  He's not a favored archetype in the current NBA, but the value you passed on (by sending Klay and Naji out in other deals) is theoretical.  That's my one critique...might you have gotten more for Naji and Klay elsewhere?