Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[DanSchwartzgan]

To set the record straight on what Kyrie makes, it isn't $50mm per and won't be in his next contract either.  His current year salary is $39.5mm and his PO is $42.4mm for 27/28.  FG is right in that he's been reasonable to work with the last two negotiations.  To me, the questions are "highest and best use" and "best timing".  

The fact that he isn't locked up for 27/28 cuts the other way too.  Kyrie is essentially a rental at the TDL.  Our dreams of a promising young player, some expiring salary and multiple firsts aren't likely to be realized given that status.  So, the TDL may not be the best timing.  But, waiting until the summer injects some level of risk.  I worry more about years than money.  What if he wants three years or two plus a PO after that?  What if he sees greener pastures somewhere else next summer.  It doesn't seem likely given how well things have gone here to date, but we wouldn't be the first fan base that ended up with a bad taste in their mouth should he change his mind.  I believe he could be extended in-season if he dropped his PO first, but am not positive.  You don't do that now, but after several months of good play and good health?

Next is figuring the relative value of his cultural influence and personal lift to the current near term versus the assets he might bring back.  I think Killer is right that the timeframe that really starts to matter is likely after Kyrie's time here.  He's absolutely valuable to that window of time as many have pointed out.  I'm not absolute in my opinion here because it depends on the package.  I don't have an issue paying him $80mm over the 27/28 and 28/29 seasons.  Signing such a deal gives additional opportunities to trade him later.  HOWEVER, if there is a deal on the table that provides a path to Flagg's eventual co-star, I don't say no to that.  That is Job One and Kyrie is the most likely path to achieving that.  Since we have no idea what the deals might look like, I'm holding fairly loosely to anything specific.  It is more of a I'll know it when I hear it and until then, I'm happy to keep doing what we are doing.  But, I'm also not in the camp that you blindly hold onto him because he's too valuable to the near term.