Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[HoosierDaddyKid]

As Bobby notes, Oklahoma City's financial situation will make it difficult to trade for another high-salary contributor. The only Thunder players making more than $7.8 million this season are effectively untradeable: Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander, Caruso, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein. Barring a shocking trade of one of those players -- a swap involving Williams is perhaps feasible in a vacuum if the Thunder want to maximize their championship chances this season, but it seems inconceivable in context -- the Thunder won't be able to match the salaries of potential targets such as Trey Murphy III (New Orleans) or Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn). Nor will they be able to replace Williams' rare combination of offense, defense, and size.

ESPN

[HoosierDaddyKid]

A disabled player exception, if the league grants one, can only be used on players under contract for the current season. Still, Oklahoma City could certainly use one of its trade exceptions to take on a contract of that size. It seems relatively safe to presume that Jerome — whether or not Oklahoma City shows interest — is bound to generate trade feelers between now and the Feb. 11 trade deadline given Memphis' perceived focus on its young trio of Cam Boozer, Zach Edey and Cedric Coward.

marcstein.substack.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Stein Line has learned that the Wizards and Bilal Coulibaly did engage in some 11th-hour discussions last Monday. No deal was ultimately reached, meaning Coulibaly is also headed for restricted free agency next summer, but the late-stage talks leave an impression that Washington still sees the former No. 7 overall pick as part of its future.

marcstein.substack.com

[DallasMaverick]

Shams Charania: Toronto's Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, sources tell ESPN. MRI on Leonard's knee showed no structural damage, but the team will use the shorter term to ramp him back up after the stoppages during the offseason.

Twitter

Kawhi out???

That's shocking!

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Jon Krawczynski: The Timberwolves are bringing back Enrique Freeman on a 2-way contract, per a source. They had one open 2-way contract and looked at several options. Freeman is well-liked and has familiarity with the system. He will begin in Iowa.

x.com

[CooPerFan]

Kyrie is injury prone and looks like he will never recover from that. If there is a way we could get Fox from SA the better.

[FireNicoHarrison]

i don't know if Fox is a good partner for Coop... mostly with that absurd contract.

[ballsrchr]

Kawhi out???

That's shocking!

That's Diva Kawhi.  He only plays when he wants to.

[JamesConway816]

Would not surprise me to see Max Christie being linked with the Thunder. They could use another wing now that Wallace & Williams have gone down.

Might be an opportunity for Masai to reload a bit and open up minutes for the guys they have brought in over the summer.

The Thunder have all kinds of picks for Masai & Presti to negotiate over.

[SleepingHero]

Kyrie is injury prone and looks like he will never recover from that.  If there is a way we could get Fox from SA the better.

Did you watch the finals?

Listen I'm all for finding Coops running man, but Kyrie right now is better than Fox.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Would not surprise me to see Max Christie being linked with the Thunder. They could use another wing now that Wallace & Williams have gone down.

Might be an opportunity for Masai to reload a bit and open up minutes for the guys they have brought in over the summer.

The Thunder have all kinds of picks for Masai & Presti to negotiate over.

Yes, a couple of FRPs is a good price.

[cow]

Did you watch the finals?

Listen I'm all for finding Coops running man, but Kyrie right now is better than Fox.

I'd do the deal if the Spurs included three first round picks.

[mvossman]

Did you watch the finals?

Listen I'm all for finding Coops running man, but Kyrie right now is better than Fox.

When you asked that question, I wasn't sure which player you were referring to (Kyrie did not exactly dominate in his recent finals appearance).  Regardless, Fox is not the guy to target, and not just because of that terrible contract.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Would not surprise me to see Max Christie being linked with the Thunder. They could use another wing now that Wallace & Williams have gone down.

Might be an opportunity for Masai to reload a bit and open up minutes for the guys they have brought in over the summer.

The Thunder have all kinds of picks for Masai & Presti to negotiate over.

Interesting.  I'm not sure what the going price is for Christie as a potential rental (PO).  I can't imagine he brings back a clean unprotected first by himself.  I could see them actually liking the fact that he's expiring.  So, I like this from their perspective at the right price.

OKC isn't far enough under the second apron to just take Christie into an exception.  So, some salary would have to come back.  But who?  I don't think they are giving up Mitchell or McCain.  Stirtz and Topic are kind of similar to Larry.  Topic propably has more upside, but is hurt all of the time.  Sorber is interesting too, but is a bit undersized and is still out with the same ACL issue from 13 months ago (he had another proceedure in July on the same knee).  One thing about him, the greater the risk, the greater the draft compensation OKC might attach in such a deal.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'd do the deal if the Spurs included three first round picks.

Yeah, the motive in that deal is absolutely not that you get the great prize which js Fox /s, but rather what draft comp comes back. Starts with our swap with them being reversed, then I want to see what lottery teams owe them picks. The swapped reversed and at least two of those (if they have any) is a good starting point.

[cow]

Yeah, the motive in that deal is absolutely not that you get the great prize which js Fox /s, but rather what draft comp comes back. Starts with our swap with them being reversed, then I want to see what lottery teams owe them picks. The swapped reversed and at least two of those (if they have any) is a good starting point.

I've mentioned it a few times and it makes a lot of sense in my head as Kyrie would be a win now move for SA and an overpaid Fox still gives the Mavs a starting level player.  It also seems like the best way the assets coming back in a hypothetical Kyrie trade.  While I think it makes sense for both teams and the Mavs would do it, and Kyrie would probably be cool with it, no clue if SA would be willing.

[Dirknows]

Interesting.  I'm not sure what the going price is for Christie as a potential rental (PO).  I can't imagine he brings back a clean unprotected first by himself.  I could see them actually liking the fact that he's expiring.  So, I like this from their perspective at the right price.

OKC isn't far enough under the second apron to just take Christie into an exception.  So, some salary would have to come back.  But who?  I don't think they are giving up Mitchell or McCain.  Stirtz and Topic are kind of similar to Larry.  Topic propably has more upside, but is hurt all of the time.  Sorber is interesting too, but is a bit undersized and is still out with the same ACL issue from 13 months ago (he had another proceedure in July on the same knee).  One thing about him, the greater the risk, the greater the draft compensation OKC might attach in such a deal.

OKC controls SA, DEN and LAC picks next year. It is safe to assume the LAC pick will likely be off the table, which means trading him for a late first in 2027 OR trying to get our 2028 pick back. Christie is an OK player, but if someone will give up a first for him I have no problem sending him out.

[windjc]

OKC controls SA, DEN and LAC picks next year. It is safe to assume the LAC pick will likely be off the table, which means trading him for a late first in 2027 OR trying to get our 2028 pick back. Christie is an OK player, but if someone will give up a first for him I have no problem sending him out.

You are going to find a player as good as Max in next years mid to late draft?? 

Odds say no. Especially with same immediate impact. The idea of a pick makes so many people go into grass is greener mode. 

Any deal the Mavs make needs to favor the Mavs. Which means if someone thinks Max makes them a contender then pay up.

Mavs are on a 24 month timeline to the finals. This idea that they are 4-5 years away is fan’s speak.

[Dirknows]

I've mentioned it a few times and it makes a lot of sense in my head as Kyrie would be a win now move for SA and an overpaid Fox still gives the Mavs a starting level player.  It also seems like the best way the assets coming back in a hypothetical Kyrie trade.  While I think it makes sense for both teams and the Mavs would do it, and Kyrie would probably be cool with it, no clue if SA would be willing.

That Fox contract is so brutal, I have a hard time seeing the Mavs taking it on to get a couple late firsts and their swap undone. Remember how hampered we would have been if we were stuck with the AD contract? This contract is even worse than ADs.

[Dirknows]

You are going to find a player as good as Max in next years mid to late draft?? 

Odds say no. Especially with same immediate impact. The idea of a pick makes so many people go into grass is greener mode. 

Any deal the Mavs make needs to favor the Mavs. Which means if someone thinks Max makes them a contender then pay up.

Yeah, but are you gonna want to pay Christie probably somewhere around 15 million?