Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DanSchwartzgan]

We’re impatient. That’s the way of fans. I think they have a good read on it. Contingencies, things lined up, other possibilities… I just think the next domino is the Tarik situation. That’s all.

I think more news is likely to revolve around Detroit’s next move instead of Tarik.  They want Murphy.  Everyone assumes they have to send out LaVert and Holland, but there is a world where Robinson goes somewhere (LA?) to trade match Collins and Stewart/Sasser are a trade match for Murphy with NO getting picks but no salary.  

Robinson, Huerter and Joe don’t make much sense to all be on Detroit.  The nice thing about the moratorium is you don’t have to execute things in the same order you announce them.  So far, Detroit has done things they can do using cap space.  Huerter goes into the Room MLE and the reported move of Stewart goes into space.  But, it can all be rearranged when reported to the league on 7/6.  The Robinson partial guarantee plan seemingly changed from cutting him to keeping him (though his decision deadline isn’t until January).  

BTW, this all fits into the Gafford for Mathurin narrative I’ve been pushing.  LAC ends up with Robinson and Gafford sending out Collins and Mathurin.  Detroit gets Collins and Dallas gets Mathurin.  Then, the bigger deal with Memphis, Dallas and Detroit loops in New Orleans with the $20mm of outgoing for Stewart and Sasser plus $7.5mm matching Murphy.  If done this way, Detroit only had to dip below the cap to fit in Joe and not Joe plus Collins.

From the standpoint of the Mav’s, lumping them into a bigger deal where AJJ goes to Memphis and Sasser comes here allows them to avoid use of the BAE or part of the MLE for Sasser.