Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Thank goodness that's over. Now, we just need that Kawhi Leonard situation to get resolved enough for the transaction to go through, and then we'll finally see what's next for like a dozen teams.

[Moviemavguy]

The Warriors could now pivot and look to upgrade their roster via trade after missing out on LeBron James, per
@MontePooleNBCS

Ding, ding, ding.

[Chicagojk]

Philly will be fascinating.  Lebron has a very low salary but typically where he goes it is about him.     

Sixers offseason is Jaylen Brown, Philon,  Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Lebron.    Not bad on paper.

Really wonders what this does to Golden State, Cleveland, and Miami.   Lebron is no longer a guy who can lead a franchise to a title, but it must hurt for these teams.  Golden State looks heading to playin stage world with an older roster.  Cleveland should still be good but they really needed a change.  Lebron may have been a jolt for them.  Miami still feels like they are short on players.  Tough to fill in with minimums and lacking future draft assets.

[Reunion Mav]

I’m wondering if Philly has to or will be doing anything. LeBron is pretty much a minimum salary player so it seems unlikely the have to. I see no real reason to add Kyrie and I see even less reason to give up really good young talent.

[Reunion Mav]

I’m wondering if Philly has to or will be doing anything. LeBron is pretty much a minimum salary player so it seems unlikely they have to. I see no real reason to add Kyrie and I see even less reason to give up really good young talent.

[KillerLeft]

I’m wondering if Philly has to or will be doing anything. LeBron is pretty much a minimum salary player so it seems unlikely the have to. I see no real reason to add Kyrie and I see even less reason to give up really good young talent.

Pretty sure Smitty was joking - they're obviously not trading Maxey or Edgecomb. 

We know they'd LOVE to rid themselves on Embiid, of course, but I don't think anyone is taking that contract.

[Tyler]

We know they'd LOVE to rid themselves on Embiid, of course, but I don't think anyone is taking that contract.

For sure. VJ is probably the going price.

My random trade idea is:
To the 76ers: PJ, Gafford, Klay, and Martin
To the Warriors: Embiid
To the Mavs: VJ, Butler

Philly gets 3 solid depth players to play around the other stars and way more cap flexibility. It arguably makes them a better and more balanced team. And they finally end The Process.

Golden State gets a big name center to ring chase on Curry's limited timeframe. 

Dallas gets a young foundation piece SG and a huge expiring contract. And they clear out their roster logjam.

[Chicagojk]

@APHOOPS
I’m like 90% sure Mathurin is just name-searching and liking any tweet that can be perceived as negative for #motivation, but if you assume that Dallas actually is his “preferred destination” then the deal won’t be for the player(s) I see a lot of you tweeting about.

A sign-and-trade would trigger a first apron hard cap for Dallas and they’re $9.54M below that apron right now. So if Mathurin’s new contract starts at $17.5M then Dallas would have to send out at least $9M. So, while it technically *could* be PJ Washington or Daniel Gafford, their salaries are too large and create subsequent salary-shedding/roster spot issues for LA. LA would [ideally] have to invite a third team (Brooklyn?) into the deal and incentivize them with draft capital to absorb someone like Isaiah Jackson into their cap space or another team’s TPE. And that’s not even considering the draft capital you’d likely have to send to Dallas for someone like Washington (Gafford you could probably get straight up for Mathurin).

The simplest way for a trade to be executed for both sides under those parameters (Mathurin, 3YR/$54M [1+2])? Bennedict Mathurin for Naji Marshall. That’d help Dallas stay under the first apron hard cap with 15 rostered players. Marshall’s role was likely going to be decreased headed into next season now with Dallas’ acquisitions of Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher. That’s on top of already having Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington.

A scoring guard for a team that needs a scoring guard. A wing capable of guarding forwards for a team that needs some size. Which team, if any, gets picks? I’ll let yall argue about that.

I am just having trouble getting there with Mathurin.   I think him, Sharpe and Kuminga are all similar players (different positions).  Catch them no the right night (and I have) and you think they can be stars.    I think any trade for Dallas would be an asset play.

As far as fit goes, it is tough.   I don't think either Sharpe or Mathurin really fit perfectly now.   They could fit less in the future.  I really think if Dallas invests in a player it is best they are a combo guard.    With Kyrie's age, it would be best to have a player who could pick up more ball handling roles.   

Right now the Mavs have Max and maybe Sasser as off ball guards.    Cooper and maybe Risacher could play some 2 as well.    It just seems not ideal to add a guy like Mathurin or Sharpe in that mix without a ton of clear minutes available.   I guess I could understand the thinking of clearing out the PF crowd by moving PJ for one.  Although, I am not sure that really fixes anything long term...especially when you think another guard is needed.  

TLDR- Don't think a Kyrie, Sergio, Max, Mathurin/Sharpe is the backcourt pairing I envision moving forward for the Mavs.   

They are talented players though.

[Chicagojk]

Saw someone on reddit propose PJ, Gafford and Klay for Embid...plus two first round picks.  

I would not gamble on Embid health...especially with three years left on his contract.  It would clear out minutes though for Dallas.  There are probably easier ways to do this than taking Embid.

[KillerLeft]

Saw someone on reddit propose PJ, Gafford and Klay for Embid...plus two first round picks.  

I would not gamble on Embid health...especially with three years left on his contract.  It would clear out minutes though for Dallas.  There are probably easier ways to do this than taking Embid.

No question Philly would take that deal, especially with Brown's contract part of their reality now. Everyone probably knows by now that I'm into accumulating draft capital for the next few years by (almost) any means necessary, but under no circumstances would I want anything to do with that Embiid contract. I think it's the single worst anchor tied around a team's neck in the entire NBA, and I wouldn't do that deal for twice that many picks, especially because giving Philly a bridge to jettison that deal would almost certainly make it less likely for those picks to be any good.

[windjc]

I think it’s amusing that so many in here are worried about the Mavs having so many good players that it creates a traffic jam.

Competition is great.

[cow]

Saw someone on reddit propose PJ, Gafford and Klay for Embid...plus two first round picks.  

I would not gamble on Embid health...especially with three years left on his contract.  It would clear out minutes though for Dallas.  There are probably easier ways to do this than taking Embid.

If we are getting the picks, I'd think about it.  I also don't think Embiid's health is a gamble at this point.  Him getting hurt is a certainty.  Time to look at his contract.

$57,985,752
$62,624,612
$67,263,472 (P)

[omahen]

I am just glad the LeBron drama has ended. There still is the Clippers and Kawhi problem, that is probably holding up at least some teams. We might start seeing some serious movement now. Minny has a huge hole at big wing with Lakers not far behind. Cleveland is reportedly also interested in Kuminga, although they would imho be better off with Strus, which would likely need to go to get Kuminga. Mavs, Atlanta, Memphis and Lakers (anyone else?) have currently too many players on their rosters. Denver hasn't really done anything yet and it is hard to imagine their only move will be letting Watson go in a SnT.

[Tyler]

No question Philly would take that deal, especially with Brown's contract part of their reality now. Everyone probably knows by now that I'm into accumulating draft capital for the next few years by (almost) any means necessary, but under no circumstances would I want anything to do with that Embiid contract. I think it's the single worst anchor tied around a team's neck in the entire NBA, and I wouldn't do that deal for twice that many picks, especially because giving Philly a bridge to jettison that deal would almost certainly make it less likely for those picks to be any good.

My thoughts exactly. That's why I also had Philly giving up VJ instead of picks, and Dallas flipping Embiid for Butler's expiring contract. The Warriors are one team I could see being willing to take a risk on Embiid to extend the Curry window.

[KillerLeft]

I am just glad the LeBron drama has ended. There still is the Clippers and Kawhi problem, that is probably holding up at least some teams. We might start seeing some serious movement now. Minny has a huge hole at big wing with Lakers not far behind. Cleveland is reportedly also interested in Kuminga, although they would imho be better off with Strus, which would likely need to go to get Kuminga. Mavs, Atlanta, Memphis and Lakers (anyone else?) have currently too many players on their rosters.

What's your opinion on this "reported" (lol) interest in Martin by the Lakers. It seems so far-fetched to me I couldn't even bring myself to acknowledge it. I mean, I can see them wanting Martin more than Vanderbilt, but I don't think the Mavericks would like that exchange, and the idea of finding a third team to take Vanderbilt seems silly to me. The Lakers can't afford to pay the draft capital that would require, and even if they could, why would they give that up for Martin? Hopefully, Dallas isn't interested in paying the draft capital price.

[KillerLeft]

My thoughts exactly. That's why I also had Philly giving up VJ instead of picks, and Dallas flipping Embiid for Butler's expiring contract. The Warriors are one team I could see being willing to take a risk on Embiid to extend the Curry window.

I think GS's complete lack of willingness to trade those great upcoming 1sts they have available, even to convince LeBron to come there, is a sign that they're quite a bit too smart to go for anything Embiid related, but for the record I'd obviously be into your idea from a Mavs fan POV.

[Tyler]

You lost me at claiming Dunleavy is smart.  But I hear what you're sayin'.

[KillerLeft]

You lost me at claiming Dunleavy is smart.  But I hear what you're sayin'.

Touché. I just mean that there have been much better opportunities to sacrifice future flexibility to support the end of Curry's career over the past couple of seasons. MUCH better. And they have consistently refused to do so. I think it's fairly clear that right or wrong, they're already thinking just as much about life after Curry as they are about flooring the most competitive team possible right now...more, probably.

[cow]

What's your opinion on this "reported" (lol) interest in Martin by the Lakers. It seems so far-fetched to me I couldn't even bring myself to acknowledge it. I mean, I can see them wanting Martin more than Vanderbilt, but I don't think the Mavericks would like that exchange, and the idea of finding a third team to take Vanderbilt seems silly to me. The Lakers can't afford to pay the draft capital that would require, and even if they could, why would they give that up for Martin? Hopefully, Dallas isn't interested in paying the draft capital price.

I could see the Lakers angle if they feel Martin is a more useful (even if not terribly useful) piece as they'd save $6.3M over two years.  I don't see the Mavs having any interest because of that and the glut of Fs/PFs on the roster.  Maybe you could get a 3rd team to take Vanderbilt and the Lakers pay something and the Mavs pay something in a salary dump that ends up being less expensive than dumping Martin's contract by yourself. 

*shrug*

[omahen]

What's your opinion on this "reported" (lol) interest in Martin by the Lakers. It seems so far-fetched to me I couldn't even bring myself to acknowledge it. I mean, I can see them wanting Martin more than Vanderbilt, but I don't think the Mavericks would like that exchange, and the idea of finding a third team to take Vanderbilt seems silly to me. The Lakers can't afford to pay the draft capital that would require, and even if they could, why would they give that up for Martin? Hopefully, Dallas isn't interested in paying the draft capital price.

I didn't see this rumor, but I agree it doesn't make much sense. Lakers are quite loaded at small wing depth with Carr, Thybulle and Williams behind the starters. Vando would be more useful as a big wing unless they find a trade for another player.

I agree it might be too pricey to trade Vando. However, they can combine 2 guys from Hardy, Knecht or Laravia (all expiring) to get to similar money.