(02-07-2026, 06:32 PM)F Gump Wrote: AD is definitely being asked by WAS to sit out the season. They have to have a successful tank, in order to keep their pick (which they lose if it's pick 9 or worse). Young is likely to sit too. 

However --- Based on what we saw from him in DAL, would we be shocked if, after sitting the rest of the season to heal, he then has surgery, that gets scheduled in June or July?

(02-08-2026, 06:38 AM)RGP1981 Wrote: I can't shake the feeling that Matas Buzelis would complement Cooper perfectly at the Forward position. So... what are chances of the Bulls agreeing to trade Buzelis for PJW in the off-season?

I would also be willing to trade Lively for Buzelis, as an alternative trade the Bulls might accept. Then scour the draft for a quality Center.

(02-08-2026, 06:47 AM)FireNicoHarrison Wrote: None.

• G: (Kingston Flemings 6'4" or Mikel Brown Jr 6'5")
  
• G: (Christie 6'6", Johnson 6'5")
  
• F: (Flagg 6'9")
  
• F: (Buzelis 6'10")
  
• C: (Lively 7'1", Gafford 6'11", Bagley 6'11")
  

(02-08-2026, 06:38 AM)RGP1981 Wrote: I can't shake the feeling that Matas Buzelis would complement Cooper perfectly at the Forward position. So... what are chances of the Bulls agreeing to trade Buzelis for PJW in the off-season?

I would also be willing to trade Lively for Buzelis, as an alternative trade the Bulls might accept. Then scour the draft for a quality Center.

(02-08-2026, 06:58 AM)RGP1981 Wrote: That's a shame... because Buzelis could help the Mavs put out a long but talented lineup for the 2026 season and beyond. Especially if the Mavs hold on to Lively.

• G: (Kingston Flemings 6'4" or Mikel Brown Jr 6'5")
  
• G: (Christie 6'6", Johnson 6'5")
  
• F: (Flagg 6'9")
  
• F: (Buzelis 6'10")
  
• C: (Lively 7'1", Gafford 6'11", Bagley 6'11")
  

I'd keep trying to make a 'Buzelis for PJW' trade happen if I were the Mavs.

(02-08-2026, 11:22 AM)loki Wrote: Sub Peyton Watson for Buzelis and you might be able to pull that lineup off. Send PJ to Chicago or Detroit into their cap space for draft picks. Then send Naji+picks to Denver for a Watson sign and trade. That gives the Nuggets a cheap rotation SF without having to pay an absurd luxury tax bill.

(02-07-2026, 09:57 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: https://x.com/FredKatz/status/2019969442843881657

Hornets amended their trade with the Bulls for Coby White
sending two second-round picks instead of three, due to White's
calf injury.

(02-08-2026, 12:21 PM)SkenfromLMF Wrote: So you can take away a 2nd rd pick if a player has an issue on a physical???

Somebody tell Dallas’ GM…

Never mind, thanks Nico

(02-08-2026, 12:19 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: Peyton Watson is a really great target for us but I’d argue it’s because you don’t have to trade any of those guys for him. He’s a great MLE target that you can offer a big long term role next to Cooper or you can use the TPE if you want to offer more than the MLE to weed out other teams offering that. Nugs already have 211M on the books next year, they will either be paying him and going way over the second apron because they’ve decided this roster can still win championships or they simply let him walk off the books as opposed to a S&T that would take money on.

(02-08-2026, 12:19 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: Peyton Watson is a really great target for us but I’d argue it’s because you don’t have to trade any of those guys for him. He’s a great MLE target that you can offer a big long term role next to Cooper or you can use the TPE if you want to offer more than the MLE to weed out other teams offering that. Nugs already have 211M on the books next year, they will either be paying him and going way over the second apron because they’ve decided this roster can still win championships or they simply let him walk off the books as opposed to a S&T that would take money on.

(02-08-2026, 01:52 PM)mvossman Wrote: Have to think Denver might shed other cap to make room for him?  I can't imagine they will let him walk for the MLE.  Best case it would take that TPE and some assets.  A young player who can score 15 a game and is a good defender will probably be a guy cap space teams take a run at.  I would also argue he may not be a perfect fit.  He has a good 3 percentage this year, but he doesn't take a lot of them.  He does most of his damage inside.  Ideally we could find a guy that spends more time on the perimeter.

(02-08-2026, 01:54 PM)loki Wrote: He's gotten better every year shooting the 3. It is on relatively low volume right now, so it remains to be seen how sustainable it is. Definitely worth keeping an eye on before deciding if he's really the guy to pursue.

(02-08-2026, 02:47 PM)mvossman Wrote: The problem is the volume.  Even if he continues to shoot 40% from three, it wont matter much if he only takes 4 3s per 36.  That's Josh Green territory.  An ideal fit next to Flagg is somebody who takes at least 7+ threes.  I have not dug into his shooting profile, but with that volume my guess is he mostly takes wide open catch and shoot 3s.  Thats better than Naji (who can't even make those) but it doesn't provide as much spacing a more willing shooter.

(02-08-2026, 05:11 PM)vfromlmf Wrote: It’s going to be hard to build this thing like we want it to look through free agency or trades alone. The core of OKC, SA and HOU were all built through the draft and they’ve filled out the rotation through trades and free agency.

The Spurs have Fox plus five lottery picks: Wemby 1, Harper 2, Vassell 11, and Castle 4 and Bryant 14. 

The Rockets have KD plus three lottery picks and they nailed the middle of the draft: Sengun 16, Amen 4, Shepherd 3, Smith 3, Eason 17.

OKC has SGA plus three lottery picks: Chet 2, Jalen 12, Wallace 10.

DAL has Kyrie plus Flagg, Lively and 2026 on Cooper’s timeline.

I get that PJW was drafted 12 and guys like Christie and Naji can play. But there’s something about the ways those teams play with waves of homegrown high elite talent that is just different. If Max Christie ever puts up a 40 point triple double I’ll eat my hat.

Bottom line, as I look to the future, I’m thinking of ways to add lottery talent through the draft. If the Mavs can somehow use their newfound financial flexibility and roster full of good role players to get another good pick they should do it, even if that means moving Kyrie. Once we have a decent stockpile of young talent they can go get their “Kyrie/Fox/KD” veteran star

(02-08-2026, 05:00 PM)Smitty Wrote: Free agent guard Cam Thomas has agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agent Tony Ronzone of Wasserman tells ESPN. Thomas, 24, averaged 21.4 points per game over the last three seasons with the Nets.

(02-08-2026, 10:46 PM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: Of all teams, I wonder why he chose the Bucks? I guess they were the only team interested. Thomas is a polarizing player for sure.