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

[SleepingHero]

Hey, if it's just Gafford and some other bloat (somehow), bring it on! 

I just can't think of a way to do it that doesn't end in buyer's remorse in a year, but maybe it being a 3-4 team deal makes that possible.

Legit the only deal that is stomachable for me is:

Gafford+Klay+Martin+Hardy+Omax Mavs get Lebron+2031 FRP.


Problem is filling out the rest of the roster.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent Nickeil Alexander-Walker has agreed to a four-year, $62 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, plus a player option and trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. CAA Co-Heads of Basketball Aaron Mintz/Austin Brown and Steven Heumann reached the contract with the Hawks tonight.

[cow]

Windhorst was writing for the Miami Herald (and was the Heat beat writer I think) when the Mavs were playing Miami in 2011 championship. After the Mavs came back and won game 2, Windhorst announced it wasn't a big deal. Miami was still going to win the series easily.

I dislike the guy immensely.

He's coattail'ed LeBron since high school and props to him for turning into a career, but I've never cared for his awkwardness and I don't think he's as plugged in as other insiders.  I also think LeBron and he have distanced themselves from each other so I'm not sure how insightful he is there either.

Legit the only deal that is stomachable for me is:

Gafford+Klay+Martin+Hardy+Omax Mavs get Lebron+2031 FRP.


Problem is filling out the rest of the roster.

Let Klutch help you out with that last problem. I do think the D'Lo signing probably closes the door on LeBron asking to come to Dallas.

[BoulderMFFL]

Center market is drying up fast.

Best remaining FA centers:
Deandre Ayton
Mortiz Wagner
Al Horford (Warriors?)
Deandre Jordan
Jaxon Hayes
Thomas Bryant
Mason Plumlee

I would be shocked if DeAndre Jordan did not re-up with the Nuggets.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Hey, if it's just Gafford and some other bloat (somehow), bring it on! 

I just can't think of a way to do it that doesn't end in buyer's remorse in a year, but maybe it being a 3-4 team deal makes that possible.

I don't consider Gafford, Klay, Naji, Martin, OMax (plus Hardy to a 3rd team for 2nds to make it happen) to be something that hamstrings the future. 

There's just too much smoke coming from too many places. 

Luka needs a lob threat. Ayton ain't that.

Edit: Oh, and...Book it!

[SleepingHero]

Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA)
I’m honestly intrigued by what Luka Garza could do with regular minutes. Never really got a chance in Minnesota. But dominated the G League after dominating college basketball. Maybe there’s something there.

[SleepingHero]

I would be shocked if DeAndre Jordan did not re-up with the Nuggets.

It definitely feels like it'd end up that way.

Really the only difference maker on that list is Ayton.

I am praying so bad for the Hornets to come in and money-whip Ayton badly.

[cow]

It definitely feels like it'd end up that way.

Really the only difference maker on that list is Ayton.

I am praying so bad for the Hornets to come in and money-whip Ayton badly.

The Pelicans would be better from a comedic standpoint.

[SleepingHero]

Sean Wright (@SeanWrightNBA)
League sources expect Deandre Ayton to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to sign with the Atlanta Hawks.

[SleepingHero]

Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA)
The Magic and Tyus Jones are in agreement on a 1-year, $7 million contract, sources told @ClutchPoints.

[cow]

Luka will rehab Ayton's career and the team that overpays for him next will regret it almost immediately.

[Chicagojk]

Seems like a lot of guys going for the 5–10 million dollar range. With the new cap, you really can’t make mistakes on the role type players. Just kills you.

[OBX Maverick]

Windhorst was writing for the Miami Herald (and was the Heat beat writer I think) when the Mavs were playing Miami in 2011 championship. After the Mavs came back and won game 2, Windhorst announced it wasn't a big deal. Miami was still going to win the series easily.

I dislike the guy immensely.

Windhorst is the east coast Ramona Shelburne….

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Luka will rehab Ayton's career and the team that overpays for him next will regret it almost immediately.

I was thinking exactly the same thing.  Ayton's mentor must be Damp.

[Jym]

6 mil a year for Hardy suddenly feels like a major overpay

[BoulderMFFL]

He's coattail'ed LeBron since high school and props to him for turning into a career, but I've never cared for his awkwardness and I don't think he's as plugged in as other insiders.  I also think LeBron and he have distanced themselves from each other so I'm not sure how insightful he is there either.


Let Klutch help you out with that last problem.  I do think the D'Lo signing probably closes the door on LeBron asking to come to Dallas.

The Rockets stockpiling centers I get the feeling that maybe LeBron will team up with KD. 

Anyone following the Rockets, what would a package for LeBron look like?

[SleepingHero]

6 mil a year for Hardy suddenly feels like a major overpay

It is. But the Mavs took the risk that Hardy would improve. I think a 3% risk of the cap was well worth it for Hardy.

Or would've you rather had him not be locked up akin to Brunson. The same dude most were wary about extending pre-KP trade because he was unplayable against the Clippers 7 months prior?

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Windhorst is the east coast Ramona Shelburne….

"Radio face" Ramona and Brian "Peter Griffin" Windhorst

[SleepingHero]

@LakersDailyCom
"The word around the league is not good about Deandre Ayton. The Portland Trail Blazers were happy as hell that they got to this point with him. ... He's been labeled as a diva, as a cancer in the locker room."

- Kendrick Perkins

https://x.com/LakersDailyCom/status/1939824817978712219

^ full vid quote here.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

@LakersDailyCom
"The word around the league is not good about Deandre Ayton. The Portland Trail Blazers were happy as hell that they got to this point with him. ... He's been labeled as a diva, as a cancer in the locker room."

- Kendrick Perkins

https://x.com/LakersDailyCom/status/1939824817978712219

^ full vid quote here.

Ayton isn't the Lakers center solution for what Luka likes.  Ayton is much closer to KP.