Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[ACMFFL]

Some of those examples are coming from times when aprons didn't yet hit in full extent. Braun, WCj, Vassel. More importantly, majority of the guys you listed were very young with a lot of potential at times when they signed their current deal. Daniels, Vassell, Watson, Jabari, Nembhard, Herb, Camara, Sharpe for example. 
I think this summer has seen a drastic shift as I listed in the original post. Watson and Dosunmu are rare examples of contracts above MLE for players that are not stars. Watson is 23 and had a great season. Dosunmu is perhaps a lone example of a veteran "role player" getting serious long term money this summer. He had great season, but is still like fourth or fifth player on a good team. Minny will have problems, as they are very top heavy in their salaries. With their picks mostly traded away, it will be very difficult for them to sustain depth behind the top 5 guys. I think they might regret that contract. Unless of course they win it all  
How many of those contracts you listed would you see as having a positive value? Daniels at 25 mil when he can't shoot at all? Braun we all agree is one of the worst deals in the league based on his last season. Herb at 20 mil after last two seasons? Great defender but injured a lot and doesn't provide much more than defense. Sharpe, one of most inefficient players with no defense? Vassell is a perfectly good wing, but at 26 mil?

Actually all the players I listed signed their contracts after the new CBA had already come into effect (July 2023), Vassell/WCJ/Braun included. Younger for sure but many of them are less proven too.
Well, the question was whether teams still felt comfortable allocating 12% of the salary cap to their fourth- or fifth-best player—not whether they would regret it later—and, in fact, that is precisely the case. Teams are still doing it even in the most recent years (Ayo, Watson, IHart, Coby, Allen, Turner, Braun, Camara, etc) 
I think it said more about the lackluster quality of FA nowadays. Both IHart and Coby signed contracts well above the MLE and they are not star players, maybe a bit more impactful overall than PJ but they also make more money than him.
Also value ain't static, some of the players I listed could improve their value over the course of the season.

And back to the PJ topic, how could questionable draft compensation and end-of-the-bench players help the Mavs this season..?