Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[SleepingHero]

Ary (@Ary_Report)
The Denver Nuggets are expected to emerge as a serious suitor for Bruce Brown when free agency opens today at 6 PM ET, league sources say. Denver will have the $5.6 million taxpayer mid-level exception available.

[Nowitzki Way]

You would have to find a way to dump Hardy contract as well (which will probably more difficult than dumping Omax).

I'm a Hardy fan. I think he has something. I've always felt he could be Clarkson lite. Maybe even some THJ to him. Just dont think it will happen in Dallas and hoping a Charlotte or Portland sees something in him for a 2nd rounder.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I am suggesting it. Is it likely? Probably not.

Although if Clarkson wants to win, I'd imagine Dallas could be on his list of potential places.

Then his list would be very long... We were not even a PO team last year.

[F Gump]

Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola)
Jason Kidd was the No. 1 target - and until the Knicks name a coach you can’t entirely rule him out - but Mike Brown is emerging as the front runner.

Knicks media continuing to pretend they have a story, when none exists. This has been dead for a month, Isola (and was really DOA before it ever started). Let it go.

[Kidnova]

Ary (@Ary_Report)
The Denver Nuggets are expected to emerge as a serious suitor for Bruce Brown when free agency opens today at 6 PM ET, league sources say. Denver will have the $5.6 million taxpayer mid-level exception available.

I originally read this as Bruce Bowen, and I was thoroughly confused.

[F Gump]

He's only extension eligible late August. Which means if by the end of training camp he hasn't signed, I expect PJ to be traded.

I don’t think there's any real chance he's traded in Sept/Oct. If he's on the way out, it will happen soon. 

I bet they have already figured out if an extension will happen. 

What we don’t know is his trade value, but there's way more opportunity to get better value when teams have more flexibility (July) rather than after rosters are already set. 

But their peripheral talk sounds like he's 100% in their plans.

[SleepingHero]

Ian Begley (@IanBegley)
There will be mutual interest between veteran guard Russell Westbrook and the Knicks when free agency opens, as Knicks are one of several teams who will have interest in Westbrook, league sources say. Knicks currently have the $5M tax-payer exception and the veteran's minimum

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Per 48mins 2024/25:

Clarkson: 29.9pts/6.9asts/5.9rbs on 40.8%fg, 36.2%3pt on 11.0 3pt attempts

Russell: 23.7pts/9.6asts/5.3rbs on 39.0%fg, 31.4%3pt on 11.7 3pt attempts

Listen, neither are Ray Allen, but I'm leaning towards Clarkson

[SleepingHero]

Then his list would be very long... We were not even a PO team last year.

Health permitting, but the Mavs were very much a playoff team even without Luka playing. It took Kyrie, AD, Gafford, Lively, and several others to be out multiple months for them to drop.

Even then they still almost made it.

[cow]

Even at 48mins, he had career lows in everything but rebounding.

That's why I used part of it.  Different teams, different focal points on offense, etc.  I'm not defending D'Lo as I don't want him near the Mavs.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

DLo is going to have quite a few Shaqtin moments. He’s an infuriating player to watch. Redick benched him several times for not giving effort. We’re desperate though.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Health permitting, but the Mavs were very much a playoff team even without Luka playing. It took Kyrie, AD, Gafford, Lively, and several others to be out multiple months for them to drop.

Even then they still almost made it.

I like your optimism, yes we will fight for a PO spot (if we can stay healthy) next year. That's sure.

But no way we are a contender. A pretender at max.

Clarkson has at least 7/8 better options than the Mavs.

[Kidnova]

Per 48mins 2024/25:

Clarkson: 29.9pts/6.9asts/5.9rbs on 40.8%fg, 36.2%3pt on 11.0 3pt attempts

Russell: 23.7pts/9.6asts/5.3rbs on 39.0%fg, 31.4%3pt on 11.7 3pt attempts

Listen, neither are Ray Allen, but I'm leaning towards Clarkson

If you look at last season in a vacuum you could argue for that, but if you consider one seemed to have a significantly above average year, and the other significantly below, I'd rather bet on a reversion to the mean and go with Russell.  Especially since he's the far better distributor, which this team needs.

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Rockets, Pistons, Pacers, Magic, Nuggets, Clippers, and Knicks are all expected to show interest in Luke Kennard, per @KellyIko

“Veteran sharpshooter Luke Kennard is expected to receive interest from a host of playoff teams, including the Rockets, Pistons, Pacers, Magic,

[Chicagojk]

I think the odds are pretty good you have to have a Jokic tax when factoring in Denver free agents. In fact, I almost would disregard any Nugget free agents. It seems like most never replicate their success playing with Jokic.

[FireNicoHarrison]

If you look at last season in a vacuum you could argue for that, but if you consider one seemed to have a significantly above average year, and the other significantly below, I'd rather bet on a reversion to the mean and go with Russell.  Especially since he's the far better distributor, which this team needs.

I'm not a D-Lo fan but we desperately need a PG and probably he is better than Clarkson in that spot.

If someone think that Flagg can stop the gap until Kyrie comes back i'm sorry but it's not work. Book it.

[Chicagojk]

While I am not a huge DLo fan, this team could sign Nico to play backup point guard and it would still be a homerun offseason.

[cow]

I'm not a D-Lo fan but we desperately need a PG and probably he is better than Clarkson in that spot.

If someone think that Flagg can stop the gap until Kyrie comes back i'm sorry but it's not work. Book it.

I'd just ask to what end is that desperate need of a PG? If you just want someone to soak up minutes and do it on a cheap contract, I guess that's fine, but he isn't going to move the needle on this team and there is a reason so many teams have moved off of him and reducing his salary to nickels on the dollar really doesn't change his impact.

[Smitty]

@MattGeorgeSAC
Russell Westbrook to Sacramento has a lot more momentum than I realized.

And they may not have to pick between Russ or Schroder either...

@StevePopper
We're still an hour-plus from the official start of free agency talks, but league source indicates that Jordan Clarkson, bought out by the Jazz, and the Knicks have mutual interest.

[F Gump]

Clarkson is the exact guy we want Hardy to be, which he’ll probably never be. Instant offense and not shy to take shots in big moments, a Jason Terry 2.0 or Nick van Exel 2.0 in Mavericks terms. 

Would love him on our team as a bench option!

I think Clarkson USED TO BE that guy, but I think those days are gone. He's pretty washed now.