Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Yeah, makes Gafford’s contract not look like such a bargain now.

I don't know that even Gafford's most staunch supporters ever called this extension "a bargain," exactly. It definitely seemed palatable after the impact he had on the finals season, but I think it was naive of the outgoing front office to assume he'd reach that level of synergy again with the pick and roll maestro playing in LA. I'd have probably been thrilled about it had the timing of it been advanced one year, but when it came down last summer, after Luka was traded...I vividly remember holding out hope that it had been sized as a salary match for a specific trade, all the way up to the deadline, basically. Now, we're another year removed from that awesome impact he made, offensively. 

But, there are still loads of teams spamming pick and roll, looking for a rim-runner. It's not impossible that someone will think he's the missing piece. The more of these names go off the board, the more I'm looking at LAL. Do they have anything the Mavs want that makes appropriate sense? That's the pertinent question, really. I'm not sure it makes sense to eat Vando's contract, even for a 1st, and I also think Pelinka is holding onto those last couple of picks like his life depends on it (which is probably smart).