Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think we've been blinded by a coach who is garbage at coaching an NBA offense, to where we think an elite level playmaker is necessary just to have role players playing up to their talent level. It's still an unknown how May will do in the NBA, but I'd bet on him at least attempting to implement an offensive scheme that tries to elevate the role players on the team.


I think PJ's contract looks much worse coming off the second worst shooting season of his career. It's almost like people have forgotten he's a 35.4% career 3pt shooter on 4.8 attempts which are better marks than one of the shooters we traded for that everyone is happy with in Santi Aldama. PJ has basically only shot below 35% in two seasons of his 7 year career, but you read some posts about him it feels like he's a career 30% 3 point shooter. He's also shot above 37% 3 times, which Aldama hasn't managed once. Not trying to put down Aldama, I like the pickup, but it's interesting how everyone clearly identifies him as a shooter, but are almost treating PJ like he isn't one. Obviously Aldama has a much more multi faceted offensive game than PJ does, and he does shoot more contested shots. But if PJ bounces back shooting wise, which is more likely than not based on his shooting history, not only is his contract absolutely fine for what he does, his trade value shoots back up. I think potentially having a coach who has a semblance of a clue on how to implement an offensive system alone could have positive effects on a number of our role players, beyond the obvious benefits of Kyrie being back.

One thing that has to be considered is the location of the three's being taken.  PJ has taken 75% of his 3's above the break.  He's been .354 from the corner over his career, but only .329 in three years in Dallas.  Aldama takes a similar percent of his 3's above the break.  But, he is way superior in his effectiveness when moved to the corner....386 for his career, but .412 and .551 the last two seasons.

If Flagg and Kyrie are operating up high with someone setting a screen, there isn't room for PJ or Aldama to occupy that space as much as in the past unless they are setting the screen.  I would predict more of their shots will come from the corner and Aldama will be better at that than PJ.  I think the analysis has to run deeper than his 3% is this and his 3% is that.