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

[mvossman]

This is what's got me stuck, I think...

1) We don't even know that salary relief is a primary goal, at the moment. I suppose we'll find out very soon.

2) Your statement that "the most reasonable route for that is Gafford and (Thompson)"...not sure I agree. I get that you're making that statement with the confident feeling that they don't want to give AD away (or maybe even that they can't), but IF salary reduction is a priority, I'm not sure it makes sense to do gymnastics with the good players on fairly valuable deals, rather than focus on doing something with the oft-injured old guy on a max contract. 

I'm so torn, because I'm not nearly as down on AD, the player, as most around here. I think he's quite valuable, in fact. But, I also think things might improve dramatically for this team in some key ways if there was a way of simply erasing his contract from the books, even if you don't get an ounce of value outside of salary relief. I'm sort of simultaneously at both ends of the spectrum with him, I guess.

The thing with trading Gafford and Klay is not just about cap relief.  The idea is that you are also getting assets back.  Gump was willing to give up a late first to clear 17 mil now (assuming clearing the repeater tax was a goal).  How much will it cost to clear 27 in the offseason?

Gafford is a poor fit on this roster right now with no P&R PG and two other starting centers.  Klay is going to turn 37 next season.  I think the hit to losing those guys is relatively small in the short term, and near zero in the long.

I don't think this organization is ready to dump AD for cap relief.  Not only would the optics be terrible, but it would be truly selling low.  You know I am skeptical that they will ever be able to sell high on AD, but I understand not pulling that trigger now.