Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Kyrie will upgrade our Lifetime Fitness offense to NBA level.  And even if he weren't on the team or if we were talking about a different sport, I hate drafting based on need.  If need coincides with BPA, great.  I might relax that stance a hair if we are one piece away, but in my view, we really only have one piece and a short term rental on the best handles the league has ever seen.  That short term rental might reenforce your stance on wanting a PG and that's understandable, but I'd give me BPA.  It's all a bit moot as there is very little chance of us getting into the top 5 so Boozer, Peterson and Wilson are off the board.

I'm with you, to a point. But that point is: who's handling the ball? It's not quiiiiite to the level of an NFL team drafting the best WR or edge rusher in the first round if their next great QB is probably still in middle school somewhere, but after watching this team for the past two seasons, my mindset is heading in that direction quickly. Once both Flagg and this other mystery dude are in place, I'll very quickly become aware of 10 other needs and will be right there with you, philosophically, but for now I just can't get excited about watching what we just had to watch last season. I think it sells the team and Flagg short. 

The good news is that there's a very strong possibility that the BPA will be a PG, so maybe everyone will be happy with that.

[cow]

I'm with you, to a point. But that point is: who's handling the ball? It's not quiiiiite to the level of an NFL team drafting the best WR or edge rusher in the first round if their next great QB is probably still in middle school somewhere, but after watching this team for the past two seasons, my mindset is heading in that direction quickly. Once both Flagg and this other mystery dude are in place, I'll very quickly become aware of 10 other needs and will be right there with you, philosophically, but for now I just can't get excited about watching what we just had to watch last season. I think it sells the team and Flagg short. 

The good news is that there's a very strong possibility that the BPA will be a PG, so maybe everyone will be happy with that.

Kyrie is handling the ball so we will not be watching what we watched last season.  I'd also be fine watching dreadful hoops next season and the following seasons as long as we are building something.  I'd also say that NFL Teams and NBA Teams make this mistake over and over again, though the NFL has the wrinkle of over drafting QBs because they are viewed as the most impactful thing to winning (which is a different debate).

[KillerLeft]

Kyrie is handling the ball so we will not be watching what we watched last season.  I'd also be fine watching dreadful hoops next season and the following seasons as long as we are building something.  I'd also say that NFL Teams and NBA Teams make this mistake over and over again, though the NFL has the wrinkle of over drafting QBs because they are viewed as the most impactful thing to winning (which is a different debate).

I just don't share some of the board's excitement over watching Kyrie play PG here (which he hasn't really done yet) as 34 year old, when it's almost surely not going to result in playoff contention. It just feels like a huge wast of time to me. No disrespect to him or his game - he'll give us some fun moments, for sure, but I'd rather they just get on with assembling the actual next real team around Flagg, if possible. 

Also, separately, I'm feeling more and more each day that he might not be here. Other than sentimentality and fan service, I just can't come with compelling reasons (for the Mavs or for HIM, frankly) to want to continue the partnership. He's a different sort of dude, so I might be wrong, but if I were him I'd be looking around for a better last chapter of my career. With so many teams out there looking for help that are more peer-appropriate for him, it's not hard to imagine him getting moved, regardless of who's saying what in the media. Just my take, but I won't be surprised if he asks for it, even, or to learn that he already has.

[Mavs2021]

I just don't share some of the board's excitement over watching Kyrie play PG here (which he hasn't really done yet) as 34 year old, when it's almost surely not going to result in playoff contention. It just feels like a huge wast of time to me. No disrespect to him or his game - he'll give us some fun moments, for sure, but I'd rather they just get on with assembling the actual next real team around Flagg, if possible. 

Also, separately, I'm feeling more and more each day that he might not be here. Other than sentimentality and fan service, I just can't come with compelling reasons (for the Mavs or for HIM, frankly) to want to continue the partnership. He's a different sort of dude, so I might be wrong, but if I were him I'd be looking around for a better last chapter of my career. With so many teams out there looking for help that are more peer-appropriate for him, it's not hard to imagine him getting moved, regardless of who's saying what in the media. Just my take, but I won't be surprised if he asks for it, even, or to learn that he already has.

I think mainly Kyrie will be here, because his trade value is lower and you need some veterans to mentor the kids. Though I get the sense that the Mavs will be very active with a wrecking ball approach. The non-committal talk by Masai with regards to Washington and Gafford makes me think something like this will happen:

Bryant + #20 for Washington
Kispert + #23 for Gafford
#9 + TPE for #12 + #17 + Wiggins + Joe

Take

Johnson
Steinbach
Okorie
Anderson
Evans

Your young core becomes

Anderson/Okorie
Christie/Evans
Flagg/Bryant
Johnson/Steinbach
Lively/Cisse

...and at the start of the 2028/2029 literally every contract except the rookie deals is gone (if you want to).

[FireNicoHarrison]

Irving is not a PG, he has never been a point guard.

He needs a big body PG (coff coff Luka) around him.

But he is old, we can build a roster on him but Coop. Don't forget It.

[vfromlmf]

I just don't share some of the board's excitement over watching Kyrie play PG here (which he hasn't really done yet) as 34 year old, when it's almost surely not going to result in playoff contention. It just feels like a huge wast of time to me. 

Just a reminder that Jason Kidd was 34 when the Mavs reacquired him to pair with Dirk. Kidd was 38 when they won the championship.

[KillerLeft]

Just a reminder that Jason Kidd was 34 when the Mavs reacquired him to pair with Dirk. Kidd was 38 when they won the championship.

Oh, sure! But, as a reminder to you, Dirk was 29 or 30 at the time Kidd was acquired, right?

That situation really doesn't have much in common with this one. Flagg is not 30 year old Dirk, having been to the finals already and having gone through a ton of 50-win seasons. I'm not against old players (have defended against the "too old" stuff around here for a decade, honestly), I'm just not interested in building around a 19 year old with them.

[mvossman]

I think mainly Kyrie will be here, because his trade value is lower and you need some veterans to mentor the kids. Though I get the sense that the Mavs will be very active with a wrecking ball approach. The non-committal talk by Masai with regards to Washington and Gafford makes me think something like this will happen:

Bryant + #20 for Washington
Kispert + #23 for Gafford
#9 + TPE for #12 + #17 + Wiggins + Joe

Take

Johnson
Steinbach
Okorie
Anderson
Evans

Your young core becomes

Anderson/Okorie
Christie/Evans
Flagg/Bryant
Johnson/Steinbach
Lively/Cisse

...and at the start of the 2028/2029 literally every contract except the rookie deals is gone (if you want to).

I think its wildly unlikely the Mavs will be making 5 picks in the first round of the draft.

[Mavs2021]

I think its wildly unlikely the Mavs will be making 5 picks in the first round of the draft.

They might do nothing in the end, but I think the whole vibe of dumping Kidd (although obvious power struggle potential), the non-committal attitude toward veteran players, the various trade rumours (I know silly season). It just seems that they´ll at least try to move up from #30 or get an additional pick in the 20-26 range. I don´t get the sense we are sending Lively, Christie, #9, #30 and the Lakers pick to Milwaukee, which is not much worse than the Miami offer.

I have a sneaky feeling, if the Bulls are not convinced by Wilson, that Ujiri might shove all the chips in the middle for him, like #9 + #30 + Lakers 2029 pick + Christie. Probably have to deal with the Bulls directly, I think the Clippers would not be open to a trade, just take Wilson and run.

[mvossman]

They might do nothing in the end, but I think the whole vibe of dumping Kidd (although obvious power struggle potential), the non-committal attitude toward veteran players, the various trade rumours (I know silly season). It just seems that they´ll at least try to move up from #30 or get an additional pick in the 20-26 range. I don´t get the sense we are sending Lively, Christie, #9, #30 and the Lakers pick to Milwaukee, which is not much worse than the Miami offer.

I have a sneaky feeling, if the Bulls are not convinced by Wilson, that Ujiri might shove all the chips in the middle for him, like #9 + #30 + Lakers 2029 pick + Christie. Probably have to deal with the Bulls directly, I think the Clippers would not be open to a trade, just take Wilson and run.

I would not be surprised if they try to move up from the 30th pick, but I think it unlikely they do anything crazier than that.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I think mainly Kyrie will be here, because his trade value is lower and you need some veterans to mentor the kids. Though I get the sense that the Mavs will be very active with a wrecking ball approach. The non-committal talk by Masai with regards to Washington and Gafford makes me think something like this will happen:

Bryant + #20 for Washington
Kispert + #23 for Gafford
#9 + TPE for #12 + #17 + Wiggins + Joe

Take

Johnson
Steinbach
Okorie
Anderson
Evans

Your young core becomes

Anderson/Okorie
Christie/Evans
Flagg/Bryant
Johnson/Steinbach
Lively/Cisse

...and at the start of the 2028/2029 literally every contract except the rookie deals is gone (if you want to).

If we're going scorched Earth, burning it all down and reloading through the Draft, there's no way I'm leaving without at least one top 10 pick.

I grew up with the 80s Mavericks where (partially thanks to the Cavs) they just lobbed pick after pick after pick every year and acted like the Joker, breaking a pool stick and declaring it "tryouts". There were very few veterans. The young players just grew up together. I feel like a team can get away with that tactic when you have someone like Cooper as the centerpiece. Like, I can see him, as early as next season, just being the veteran like voice who will say, "Hey, I'm going to be here every morning at 6AM working on my game. Show up and work as hard as me and we'll go somewhere. If not, f--- off." The early 90s Cowboys were great because Troy and Irvin practiced their asses off and players were terrified of letting Aikman down.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

If Masai wanted to go full CTRL+ALT+DELETE, I would shove all in and try to have two top 10 picks. Again, if the Mavs could get #12 and #37 from the Thunder for PJ, and Jabari Smith, Sheppard and a 1st from the Rockets for Kyrie, I'd see if the Bulls would take Smith and #12 for #4.

I would go to town with a trio of Flagg, Wilson and Brown/Acuff/Wagler/Burries/Flemings.

[FireNicoHarrison]

If Masai wanted to go full CTRL+ALT+DELETE, I would shove all in and try to have two top 10 picks. Again, if the Mavs could get #12 and #37 from the Thunder for PJ, and Jabari Smith, Sheppard and a 1st from the Rockets for Kyrie, I'd see if the Bulls would take Smith and #12 for #4.

I would go to town with a trio of Flagg, Wilson and Brown/Acuff/Wagler/Burries/Flemings.

That's a Dream scenario but probably not possible.

[F Gump]

I think this forum generally sells Kyrie way short, in their perceptions. That's not a comment about a trade offer that's too low in return, but rather a failure to appreciate the difference on the court that an all-NBA caliber player brings. The gravity of their game has huge impact. The desire for Flagg to have a top-level running mate to alter the offense's potential would be IMMENSELY changed as soon as day one, just by having a healthy Kyrie.

[cow]

I think this forum generally sells Kyrie way short, in their perceptions. That's not a comment about a trade offer that's too low in return, but rather a failure to appreciate the difference on the court that an all-NBA caliber player brings. The gravity of their game has huge impact. The desire for Flagg to have a top-level running mate to alter the offense's potential would be IMMENSELY changed as soon as day one, just by having a healthy Kyrie.

I'm not saying either side would do it, but just working through the hypothetical of a Kyrie for Fox swap and what I'd ask for in return:

+1 FRP for the shorter contract length
+1 FRP for the smaller contract numbers
+1 FRP for the upgrade in talent
Toss in Martin for salary matching purposes.
Remove or reverse the swap rights in 2030.

Too greedy?  Not greedy enough?

Why would the Spurs do it?  Seemingly do the impossible and upgrade Fox while reducing long term salary.  Kyrie fits their win now timeline nicely.
Why the Spurs don't do it?  Not sure if Kyrie has rehabbed his image league wide.  Harper is going to be ready sooner than later.
Why the Mavs do it?  Refills the cupboard of tradeable future assets and recaptures control of one of their own future picks.  Does right by Kyrie.  Dumps Martin.  I've never been the biggest fan of Fox, but he's fine for the Mavs timeline and you probably aren't going to get a better option back at the position if you let Kyrie go.  
Why the Mavs don't do it?  That's a huge contract for Fox and you'll probably not be able to get rid of it until the final year, if then.  Those firsts are likely late round picks or mid round picks if you are lucky.  I guess you could ask for additional swap rights.

Even if the swap makes a lot of sense in my head, I'm not sure I'd pull the trigger. Still a fun excercise.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4843...s-30-teams


NBA offseason draft-free agency, trade targets for all 30 teams.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Marc Stein: "There has been so much anticipation about a Giannis move. Are we finally going to get this trade that we have been talking about incessantly? When I talk to people around the league, every team executive, every coach, every agent, Giannis' status comes up. It is always brought up. The way this thing has been trending is that it is finally going to happen in this window between the Finals and the draft."

Marc Stein: "If they trade him, he is extension-eligible six months from the trade. And if you are trading for Giannis, you need his signature on an extension six months and one minute after the trade, because you do not give up the kind of assets it is going to take to not know you could keep the guy."

YouTube

[Smitty]

Putting most everything I've posted about realistic trade ideas here. Feel free to add to it..

Salary Match Kyrie Trade:
HOU: (3 of) Adams, DFS, Smith Jr, Sheppard
DET: (2 of) Robinson, LeVert, Stewart + Holland
ORL: Jalen Suggs
MIN: Gobert or Randle
MIL: (2 of) Turner, Kuzma, Portis OR AJ Green+Turner/Kuzma

These are the simplest means of salary matching for potential Kyrie teams this summer. I have no interest in any of the above players.

One that I worked through that I might consider:
MIN: Kyrie Irving, AJ Johnson
DAL: Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu (SnT), 2033 FRP
 

Gafford:
CHA: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Josh Green (expiring) + Pick #18

ATL: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Corey Kispert + Pick #23

LAL: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Jake LaRavia (expiring) + Dalton Knecht (expiring) + Pick #25

TOR: Daniel Gafford
DAL: Jakob Poeltl + Pick #19 + Future FRP


Klay:
SAS: Klay Thompson
DAL: Keldon Johnson, ’28 & ’31 SRPs
 
PJW:
SAS: PJ Washington
DAL: Keldon Johnson, Pick #20, 2030 FRP Swap rights returned

 
Use of TPE:
DEN: Klay Thompson, Caleb Martin, TPE
DAL: Cam Johnson, Christian Braun, Pick #26

 
OKC: TPE
DAL: Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Pick #17

[Smitty]

@TheDunkCentral
The Clippers are emerging as a potential third team for Jaylen Brown in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, with a deal that would send the No. 5 pick to Milwaukee, per @GrantAfseth

“A potential multi-team trade framework making the rounds in league circles would bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics and send Jaylen Brown to the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Clippers’ No. 5 overall pick going to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the return, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.”

https://dallashoopsjournal.com/p/jaylen-...ics-trade/

[omahen]

@TheDunkCentral
The Clippers are emerging as a potential third team for Jaylen Brown in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, with a deal that would send the No. 5 pick to Milwaukee, per @GrantAfseth

“A potential multi-team trade framework making the rounds in league circles would bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics and send Jaylen Brown to the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Clippers’ No. 5 overall pick going to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the return, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.”

https://dallashoopsjournal.com/p/jaylen-...ics-trade/

Interesting. If we don't count the possibility of the SnT, there is limited realistic pathway to Brown without trading either Leonard or Garland. It would require 6 players sent from Clippers with only Brown coming back. 

Sending out Kawhi and #5 would continue the soft rebuild Clippers are doing. Their core would be Brown, Garland and Mathurin - all at the beginning of their prime. Some good role players like DJJ, Dunn, perhaps they keep Collins. They would need a better center and they would have assets to pull another move.

Milwaukee could flip Kawhi for additional assets to a team like GSW or Miami.