Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Smitty]

That was just a trade-match suggestion.  If 17 were added, it helps, but then you have to replace some of these guys in a 2/1 or 3/1 with minimum contracts.  The thing about PJ is he can play the three when JWill misses time.  He can also help as the small-ball 5 when they have injuries there (and they are likely to get thinner there as FG has outlined).  

There are other ways to skin the cat, but Dallas is light on guards and OKC is light up front.  They are trying to win championships today and we are trying to rebuild a roster.  It feels like a good fit.  

I could see putting 9 into the deal and taking on 12 & 17, which helps financially ($7mm vs $10.6 for 12 and 17 combined).  I could also see putting the Laker’s 2029 in a deal (instead of 9) if we got 12/17 and Wallace.  You are right that we won’t likely solve all of OKC’s issues in one deal (though we do have a nice TPE that could help).  But, we probably can’t make it worse in any deal we might do.

I just think it makes more sense for them to move one or two of Dort, Joe, Wiggins, and to a lesser extent Caruso, simply because of his contract (19.5, 21.0, 22.4). 
Those are the 'Guards' that I'd talk about. 

Mitchell and Wallace, age 22 & 23 respectively, were top-6 in minutes played for them this season and Wallace was top-3 in the playoffs. They also have McCain and Topic that are cheaper, young, cost-controlled Guards.


I think you're right to think they'd like a player like PJW for their frontcourt. I don't know what his value would be. I'm higher on him than probably anyone on the board, so I'll leave draft compensation out of the equation. But a trade that makes sense to me is something like:

OKC: PJW + TPE
DAL: Dort or Caruso + I. Joe or Wiggins

This saves them ~$12M and turns the "older" Guards into a cost controlled front court guy. I'd personally pull the trigger if it's Caruso+Joe. Not even sure I need a FRP to do it...