Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

The way I like to think of this is we have an opportunity to fill a $38mm hole with salary.  I'm not married to any one way of doing it.  It can be taking back 25% more salary in a trade.  It can be MLE/BAE signings or trades into any of our exceptions.

Bear in mind also that it doesn't all have to happen this summer.  You could fill up the first $17mm of the hole and leave the TPE not only available for later, but you could also leave room to use it under the tax.  Conversely, you could use the TPE this summer and stay about $15mm under the tax so that you can use the MLE (or part of it) later.

In other words, I'd probably expect them to leave themselves some room under the tax.  Many have said the TDL is the better time to trade Kyrie.  It probably makes some sense to anticipate what you might take back in such a deal and plan for it.

Sure, I'm with you. I just mean it's nice to have a TPE we can dream with, for once.