Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[F Gump]

Next strawman. Now it is about Kyrie forcing his way out or holding the Mavs hostage. Where is that coming from? He has a player option next summer. And that translates to losing team control. A scenario that teams are trying to avoid. Why we are seeing more high stake deadline moves these days.

NOT a strawman by any means - my words were an obvious reply to the clear meaning of what "losing team control" would be implying. And your explanation in this post ^ was along those same lines as my reply. 

When there is a loss of "team control" the team (supposedly) ends up FORCED to make a trade, or else to pay whatever contract he demands, in order to keep from losing his talent for nothing. Or, as I put it (different words, same meaning) he has the opportunity to force his way out or hold the Mavs hostage (on a contract size). You want the Mavs to avoid that, I take it. 

But a contract running out as "a scenario that teams are trying to avoid" (forcing trades, as you note) is only partly true and only sometimes an issue. It does force a trade when the team doesn't want him at the anticipated new contract price, and fear they will lose him for nothing in free agency. But other times, no issue at all. Teams don't "try to avoid" such things at all when they want him and he wants them and they have a meeting of the minds on salary size and his future value to the team.