Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DanSchwartzgan]

The interesting thing is that OKC put themselves in this position on purpose. That hints they already have a solution lined up, but if not, then it's hard to fathom.

They could have declined Dort's TO, and solved it just that simply. They did not.

The financial and other penalties are significant for staying where they are. Small market team. Will they really just keep a payroll solidly over A2? If they do, and end up having to pay the massive tax bill, I'd wager they won't do it again.

They also kept Kenrich Williams at $5mm, which seems high for his level of production.

What makes it more perplexing is it gets much worse next year.  SGA's deal goes up $20mm and the numbers being thrown around for Wallace show his cost going up in the $18mm range.  That is why I thought (hoped), there might be a path to Wallace.  But, I'm not sure how we would satisfy what would likely be a very high price in terms of assets demanded, not to mention how we might solve their financial issues in any meaningful way.  

People have postulated PJ would make sense there.  In their depth chart, maybe.  But, not on their cap sheet.  I could see the argument that they might send Dort into our TPE and swap Christie for Wallace.  They have PG's and a SG with a little more size might make sense.  It also gives them flexibility next summer and a TPE for the value of Dort's contract.  I wonder what the draft equity requirement would be for something like that.

EDIT: FWIW, that transaction more than solves OKC's 2nd Apron issue as it leaves them about $4mm under it with a need to fill one roster spot following the 2-for-1 trade. For Dallas, that transaction would take us to just a hair over the tax. It could be resolved in a Klay buyout and replacement with Cisse for less than the value of Klay's buyout. Wallace adds that long term piece at PG and moves Irving to his more natural SG for the rest of his time here. The removal of Klay gives Larry and Justin Biber a path to PT and adding Cisse makes it easier to bring Lively along slowly. Of course, the next question I'd ask myself is what is keeping this from happening already if it was in the works. I can't think of the thing this might be dependant on.