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

[mvossman]

We’ve posted a lot of trade ideas the last several weeks but not many predictions. I think the Mavs will trade two players by the deadline. Gafford and DLO.

The obvious Gafford deals involve IND/Mathurin and ATL/Kennard+Pick. Other teams include BOS, LAL, TOR.

As for Russell… DLO+Cash to anyone that can take him for air. The maximum amount of cash they can send is $7.96M. It covers most of DLO’s contract and saves Dumont more in tax+salary than the ~$8M being sent out.

Making these two trades opens up a roster spot for Nembhard. The Mavs can then waive Exum to add Cisse to the 15-man, when he runs out of two-way eligibility.

My prediction is that Dlo is the only move they manage to make.

Then they bring back AD and Kyrie and manage to make the Play-in and possibly the playoffs.

Then they hire a GM in the offseason (one the board will be underwhelmed by) and ask him to cut 27 mil and find Flagg a Robin without assets or a lottery pick.