Trade& Free Agency 2026/2027

[omahen]

Yeah. The Caruso angle has been talked about a lot already. OKC has a financial crunch and very little need for 2-3 more rookie first rounders outside the lottery.

The Cleveland one is the Lebron rumor. They are also dealing with Apron issues and may want to add Lebron to the mix as well. 
Pick #29 doesn't move me all that much, but I'd probably do it for an expiring Strus. Try to package 29 & 30 to move up and secure my guy. Which for me would be I. Evans, but it could be any number of guys they deem worthy of going up for.

Raptors will be up against the Tax and stuck with their current team. Sending #19 and a future first gives them a lot more current and future flexibility. There's the Masai connection there also. Mavs do it to get more assets..

I'd need to dive into the DET and CHA ones more. Idk why those two stood out to me at first glance.

I think FRPs have become far to valuable to be used in pure salary dumps. I don't remember last time I saw it, other than Holmes example Dan posted. And Holmes was extremely bad salary, not elite role player like Caruso. Example of a more realistic "salary dump" could be Denver with MPJ for Cam Johnson trade. That trade reduced their payroll a lot while bringing in what seemed to be a similar level of player (turned out MPJ was actually better). 

Denver is a team that might be looking at some heavy shaking up. They are above the first apron and Peyton Watson (whom they seem to want to resign) might get offers at least in the Braun contract range, if not higher. THJ, Brown and Spencer Jones are also UFA and they were in the rotation. I really don't know what they will opt out to do. Cleanest way would be to dump Cam and resign Watson, but other things could be on the table too.

OKC will become very expensive, but I am not sure why they would consider paying a FRP to purely salary dump aynone. That is just not the way they operate and they have far cleaner ways to reduce salary. I am not sure if Caruso is really considered as a negative contract around the league. He is still an elite role player. That is not 60 mil of dead money that needs to be given away. More realistically it is someone trading for Caruso and them paying a cap space team (if they don't have the space themselves) to take the necessary salary. For example, Lakers have the cap space and would imho gladly take a player like Caruso in it as he is exactly what they need. OKC will imho solve their "problem" of having too many FRPs in this draft by pushing that assets either for trading up, or exchanging for picks in future drafts. I think they will draft one player they really like. The cleanest way for OKC to reduce salary is by not taking team options on Dort and Hartenstein, if there are no teams willing to simply trade for them in their cap space (Dort is another example Lakers would imho gladly take into their capspace and pay a little something like a pick swap to OKC). 

I don't think Cleveland really needs a third team for LeBron. It would have to be a SnT (assuming LeBron doesn't want to play for minimum) in any case. If LeBron is put on that roster, one of Allen or Mobley becomes imho redundant. I think Lakers would gladly discuss any of the two putting assets on the table to make it happen. Even if Cleveland thinks they can make Allen-Mobley-LeBron work, they would need to dump more than just Strus (add Schroeder).

[Smitty]

Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops)
Brian Windhorst says there’s potential for a Giannis-Jaylen Brown trade:

“Of course it makes sense for Milwaukee. Of course the Bucks are monitoring this very closely and would be getting ready to call Boston.”

(via @GetUpESPN, h/t @CelticsUnite18)

[mvossman]

Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops)
Brian Windhorst says there’s potential for a Giannis-Jaylen Brown trade:

“Of course it makes sense for Milwaukee. Of course the Bucks are monitoring this very closely and would be getting ready to call Boston.”

(via @GetUpESPN, h/t @CelticsUnite18)

That would be crazy.

[Smitty]

That would be crazy.

Maybe not...

Jaylen Brown is “deeply frustrated” with the Boston Celtics organization, per@Tmac_213
 
 
“I think his frustration lies deeply in the organization that we don’t have the details to… There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing, just going on with the Boston organization with JB.”
 
(Via@VinceAndTmac)

[KillerLeft]

Maybe not...

Jaylen Brown is “deeply frustrated” with the Boston Celtics organization, per@Tmac_213
 
 
“I think his frustration lies deeply in the organization that we don’t have the details to… There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing, just going on with the Boston organization with JB.”
 
(Via@VinceAndTmac)

I'm sure everyone has seen it by now, and I don't really want to track down a link, but Brown did a stream this week in which he said this year was his favorite year in Boston, which has their fans pretty pissed. They won a ring a couple of years ago (he was finals MVP), and a year when they get unexpectedly bounced in the 1st round is his favorite? Kind of seems like what he enjoyed was being the man, not having to defer to Tatum.

[Smitty]

They won a ring a couple of years ago (he was finals MVP), and a year when they get unexpectedly bounced in the 1st round is his favorite? Kind of seems like what he enjoyed was being the man, not having to defer to Tatum.

Spot on!

[mvossman]

Maybe not...

Jaylen Brown is “deeply frustrated” with the Boston Celtics organization, per@Tmac_213
 
 
“I think his frustration lies deeply in the organization that we don’t have the details to… There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing, just going on with the Boston organization with JB.”
 
(Via@VinceAndTmac)

I'm saying a Tatum/Giannis pairing would be crazy.  Would be unstoppable in the East.

[Chicagojk]

I'm saying a Tatum/Giannis pairing would be crazy.  Would be unstoppable in the East.

will Milwaukee help Boston get another title?   I assume this would require draft capital right?  Does this work for Mil?  Seems like they are trading a better player who is similar age for another really good player.   Just feels like they are in a road to mediocre, right?   Maybe they could move Brown somewhere else for more draft capital.  Maybe Portland would be interested for the MIL draft capital back?  I just see very little interest if Brown winds up in MIL

[cow]

Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops)
Brian Windhorst says there’s potential for a Giannis-Jaylen Brown trade:

“Of course it makes sense for Milwaukee. Of course the Bucks are monitoring this very closely and would be getting ready to call Boston.”

(via @GetUpESPN, h/t @CelticsUnite18)

Makes a ton of sense for the Bucks.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Maybe not...

Jaylen Brown is “deeply frustrated” with the Boston Celtics organization, per@Tmac_213
 
 
“I think his frustration lies deeply in the organization that we don’t have the details to… There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing, just going on with the Boston organization with JB.”
 
(Via@VinceAndTmac)

If they trade for Giannis, Tatum will soon be "deeply frustrated" with the Celtics organization.

Everyone wants to be the man.

[Mavs2021]

will Milwaukee help Boston get another title?   I assume this would require draft capital right?  Does this work for Mil?  Seems like they are trading a better player who is similar age for another really good player.   Just feels like they are in a road to mediocre, right?   Maybe they could move Brown somewhere else for more draft capital.  Maybe Portland would be interested for the MIL draft capital back?  I just see very little interest if Brown winds up in MIL

That´s a strong take considering that Boston had the 4th best record with Payton Pritchard as their third best player. Individually only Doncic, SGA and Jokic averaged more PTS + REB+ AST combined and Brown has them all beat on the defensive end. Giannis must be by far the best player in the league considering Brown is just really good.

Though I do agree it does not do much for Milwaukee, since Brown is too old to build around for them. Then Giannis is 12 months away from FA, if he chooses to do so. It´s not just the Mavs that will be sniffing around. Lakers could roll over their cap space, too. Nets, Bulls, Clippers, Heat all have $70M or less committed. 

That puts Milwaukee in a tricky negotiation position with literally all the big boys projecting to have this major cap space capability in 2027. 

I also don´t think it´s a coincidence that this cap space threat exists. The 2027 class potentially includes:

Giannis
Jokic
KAT
Mitchell
MPJ
Davis
Irving
Lavine
Ingram
Randle
Herro
J. Green
Hartenstein
Wiggins
Barrett
D. Murray
Kuzma
Kuminga
Brooks
Monk
Aldama
Marshall
Bitadze
Christie

The old bracket:

(DeRozan)
(Gobert)
(Harden)
(Durant)
(Kawhi)
(LeBron)
(Curry)
(Butler)
(PG13)
(Draymond)

The RFA business:

Wembanyama
Miller
Henderson
Black
Thompson

[cow]

I'd assume the Bucks would get picks to go along with Brown who is two years younger and would give them an additional year of contract control.  While they might not want to build around Brown, it would give them watchable basketball until they flip him for even more picks.  They'd also do by right by Giannis by sending him to a contender.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Can we all just appreciate for a moment that OKC is about to have to give away draft assets to escape salary cap issues? They built their championship, in a big part, due to being opportunistic with teams desperation. If it's not the Mavs, I hope whoever takes big money from them makes them pay big.

I predict that Chet would be expendable if they somehow move up in the Lottery.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I did a Tankathon. The Mavs got #3. The Hawks got #8.

The Hawks looked good with CJ McCollum as a secondary ballhandler, but need an upgrade.

Mavs receive #8 and #23, plus Kispert, Risacher and Hield
Hawks receive Kyrie and #30

The trade is financially even though I view Hield and Risacher as negative contracts, as they each have two years remaining. I think Kispert would be a good stretch player. #8 becomes the best of Burries, Brown, Acuff or Lopez. #23 is either Johnson, Swain or Evans.

If the Mavs could leave the Draft with Wilson, Burries and Swain, that's a hell of youth movement. Masai can use the MLE and PJ, Gafford and Risacher to trade for PG.

[F Gump]

Countdown, 3 more days ....

[mvossman]

I did a Tankathon. The Mavs got #3. The Hawks got #8.

The Hawks looked good with CJ McCollum as a secondary ballhandler, but need an upgrade.

Mavs receive #8 and #23, plus Kispert, Risacher and Hield
Hawks receive Kyrie and #30

The trade is financially even though I view Hield and Risacher as negative contracts, as they each have two years remaining. I think Kispert would be a good stretch player. #8 becomes the best of Burries, Brown, Acuff or Lopez. #23 is either Johnson, Swain or Evans.

If the Mavs could leave the Draft with Wilson, Burries and Swain, that's a hell of youth movement. Masai can use the MLE and PJ, Gafford and Risacher to trade for PG.

I would pull that trigger in a heartbeat, but I doubt Hawks do.  That's a lot of draft capital in this draft for a guy in his mid 30's who hasn't been on the court for a year and a half.  You may think Risacher is a negative contract, but I doubt the Hawks are at that point yet.  Personally, I would rather have Risacher contract than Kispert contract.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I did a Tankathon. The Mavs got #3. The Hawks got #8.

The Hawks looked good with CJ McCollum as a secondary ballhandler, but need an upgrade.

Mavs receive #8 and #23, plus Kispert, Risacher and Hield
Hawks receive Kyrie and #30

The trade is financially even though I view Hield and Risacher as negative contracts, as they each have two years remaining. I think Kispert would be a good stretch player. #8 becomes the best of Burries, Brown, Acuff or Lopez. #23 is either Johnson, Swain or Evans.

If the Mavs could leave the Draft with Wilson, Burries and Swain, that's a hell of youth movement. Masai can use the MLE and PJ, Gafford and Risacher to trade for PG.

The awesome thing about Kyrie is that if he's healthy, he's a top 30 player in the league. But the best part is that he has a top 10 value for what he offers. Kyrie, Johnson, Daniels, Kuminga Okongwu plus NAW is a sneaky good East team. I've heard multiple talking heads say that Kyrie would fetch a haul from the team that misses out on Giannis. 

Plus I think #8 is the edge of the drop off in Draft talent. I'm not sure Burries or Brown would make a big jump for Atlanta, but I think a veteran would. It's amazing how Kyrie has transformed his reputation and value. He's gone from toxic and a team killer to seen as a team player and a veteran leader. 

The Mavs have, as Gump says, killed their talent by repeatedly "losing on the margins" of multiple trades. You lose a little on multiple trades, it adds up to a lot. The Luka trade was obviously horrible, but the indefensible stupidity is that Nico was conned into having to throw in a 2nd. Same with the Grimes trade. That seems small, but when you consider that Ayo Dosumu was essentially acquired for a handful of 2nds, you realize that Nico basically gave away what the Mavs could've used to deal for their SG for the next generation. Why do I say all this? Because the Kyrie trade would be the best opportunity to flip the script and get extra. And from what I've heard about Masai is that he's a dick to negotiate trades with because he always wants more. To that I say: Good.

Edit: Oops. I replied to my own post instead of mvossman.

[Smitty]

"Rui Hachimura is now the NBA's all-time leader in career playoff 3P%"






Do the Lakers want to bring back Rui? He's a UFA this summer. They want clean books for '27 to chase some bigger names, right? What's his market? He's coming off of a 3 year $51M deal and is 28 years old. Is there a SnT option with expiring Klay going to the Lakers? Is there any interest from the Mavs at all there with Rui? I guess it depends on what happens in the draft and what Masai thinks and does with PJW?

[Chicagojk]

"Rui Hachimura is now the NBA's all-time leader in career playoff 3P%"






Do the Lakers want to bring back Rui? He's a UFA this summer. They want clean books for '27 to chase some bigger names, right? What's his market? He's coming off of a 3 year $51M deal and is 28 years old. Is there a SnT option with expiring Klay going to the Lakers? Is there any interest from the Mavs at all there with Rui? I guess it depends on what happens in the draft and what Masai thinks and does with PJW?

Yeah it will be intersesting to see what they do?   Are they keeping money open for 27?  I thought they plan to be aggressive this year.  I guess they can be flexible.   

Rui has played himself into a nice contract this year.   No idea what range.   They have flexibility with Reaves before he signs.  Less so after he signs.    Smart can opt out and may very well do that as he is only making 5 million.   I think Lebron staying LAL is the best for him.  Could he sign for 20-25 million on a short deal?   I think the Lakers are good.  Not sure they can get to the OKC/SA level anytime soon, but they are definitely in the next group.  Being one of the top 5 teams is not a bad place to be.   One more thing, I assume they make a move for a center this summer.   That seems in the cards.

[Smitty]

@esidery
The Raptors will again attempt to move Jakob Poeltl’s contract this offseason.

Poeltl’s undesirable deal was the reason why Toronto was unable to upgrade the center position this season:

2026-27: $19.5 million
2027-28: $27.3 million
2028-29: $29.5 million
2029-30: $27.3 million

*2029-30 is $5.0 million guaranteed

I know it wasn't popular the first time I mentioned his name as a possibility for using the TPE to acquire more assets, but it has to be on the table, no? What would it take to stomach? This year's pick (#19) plus another unprotected first rounder?

Maybe then you move Gafford for a protected future first? Come away with 3 FRP's in total? Just live with Lively and Poeltl as your main Bigs next season, knowing you're not really a contender anyway? Or maybe TOR likes Gafford and it's a swap there, with all the picks coming from them, and no need to use the TPE...