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

[mvossman]

If this happens, I'll be disappointed, but also a little relieved, frankly.

This is exactly where I am at.

[mvossman]

Why? Destroy the tanking? Hahahahahah 

NBA leakers are insane.

This would be for the benefit of a team actually trading for him.

[Dirknows]

This would be for the benefit of a team actually trading for him.

I mean with this injury he’ll still be able to do conditioning and stay in shape, so teams could potentially be getting just a well rested healthy AD is another benefit of him not actually playing basketball. It’s when he plays he tends to get hurt.

[Kidnova]

Why? Destroy the tanking? Hahahahahah 

NBA leakers are insane.

This is to increase his potential value to a contending trade partner.  Of course the Mavs would want this leak out there.

[KillerLeft]

I mean, who even knows what's true and what's not anymore with these rumors. There are so many different, sometimes conflicting agendas at play. For now, I guess I'm just choosing to take solace in the abstract idea that there might still be options out there and available to the Mavs, regardless of which they choose. It might be total make believe, but someone put that out there for some reason, so I guess some discussion is better than none.

[Dirknows]

AD is fighting for his own trade value on twitter. Tweeted “lies!” At a report he would miss months.

[cow]

After KP and AD, let's never trade for a top tier big man again.

[FireNicoHarrison]

This would be for the benefit of a team actually trading for him.

I hope you are right... But add a 33yo to win a ring after 3months his first game after a ACL is a huge bet.

[Jmaciscool]

I mean, who even knows what's true and what's not anymore with these rumors. There are so many different, sometimes conflicting agendas at play. For now, I guess I'm just choosing to take solace in the abstract idea that there might still be options out there and available to the Mavs, regardless of which they choose. It might be total make believe, but someone put that out there for some reason, so I guess some discussion is better than none.

This is exactly where I'm at too.

It also helps that no matter what happens with AD the Mavs are still the team that has Cooper Flagg.

[FireNicoHarrison]

AD is fighting for his own trade value on twitter. Tweeted “lies!” At a report he would miss months.

Great!

[Nowitzki Way]

I'm ready to just move on from this guy. Take a salary dump on AD. Hopefully more teams involved we could get some type of young asset and/or future pick. We will not be getting any type of Risacher or Okongwu or New Orleans 26 pick. Would Atlanta or any other team be willing to add better pieces if we include Gafford, Klay, or Naji with him?

I think this AD trade needs to be the first domino. Please find a good home for Klay so he can contend for a title. He deserves it. Gafford can go. Naji is a great piece for a contender. No reason to keep him

This is all tough because we need to be competitive next year. Just none of these guys fit a timeline with Flagg.

[bubbler86]

I'm ready to just move on from this guy. Take a salary dump on AD. Hopefully more teams involved we could get some type of young asset and/or future pick.  We will not be getting any type of Risacher or Okongwu or New Orleans 26 pick.  Would Atlanta or any other team be willing to add better pieces if we include Gafford, Klay, or Naji with him?

I think this AD trade needs to be the first domino.  Please find a good home for Klay so he can contend for a title. He deserves it.  Gafford can go.  Naji is a great piece for a contender. No reason to keep him

This is all tough because we need to be competitive next year. Just none of these guys fit a timeline with Flagg.

To me, Gafford has to stay.   We cannot keep rolling Powell out there.

[Mavs2021]

Shams is just like Woj. No original thought for himself. Really tired of these press releases.

Also remember how happy Paul was, when AD got traded to Dallas. I guarantee you that clown Harrison would have given him a max extension. We went right back to the Retirement Home approach as soon as Lindsey left.

I have no idea why anybody would even want to trade for AD. He´s clearly only in basketball for the money. His team hopes to get him traded now at a total discount. Then he´ll perform four weeks for his new team and demand his extension. It will be the final deal he ever signs, so he probably checks out mentally three months later.

I could understand this from ATL POV, if AD was expiring, but I´d rather have Porzingis + Kennard expirings than AD for one play-off game/series, when I have a bright future with JJ, Daniels, Okungwu and the NOP/MIL picks. Why deal with the extension headache or the two remaining years. I get why TOR wants it. Poeltl is literally finished and Quickley is also a poor contract. 

And I genuinely doubt that the interest for AD was much higher around the league at the time of the Luka trade.

[Kidnova]

Shams is just like Woj. No original thought for himself. Really tired of these press releases.

Also remember how happy Paul was, when AD got traded to Dallas. I guarantee you that clown Harrison would have given him a max extension. We went right back to the Retirement Home approach as soon as Lindsey left.

I have no idea why anybody would even want to trade for AD. He´s clearly only in basketball for the money. His team hopes to get him traded now at a total discount. Then he´ll perform four weeks for his new team and demand his extension. It will be the final deal he ever signs, so he probably checks out mentally three months later.

I could understand this from ATL POV, if AD was expiring, but I´d rather have Porzingis + Kennard expirings than AD for one play-off game/series, when I have a bright future with JJ, Daniels, Okungwu and the NOP/MIL picks. Why deal with the extension headache or the two remaining years. I get why TOR wants it. Poeltl is literally finished and Quickley is also a poor contract. 

And I genuinely doubt that the interest for AD was much higher around the league at the time of the Luka trade.

Kind of a weird take.  Shams, like Woj, isn't really supposed to be putting out a lot of original content.  They have connections to agents and teams which allow them to break news faster than everybody else.  Yes, that means a lot of it is filtered through a PR team, but it's also usually from legitimate sources.

[michaeltex]

I think AD is a great talent, maybe one of the best big men in the league, but I'm OK with moving on from the nightly injury watch and start working to build a new team. We could stop holding out collective breath every time he takes a fall (which is a LOT). It would also remove the constant reminder of Nico's Folly and let us look to the future.

In AD's defense, the last time he missed a ton of regular season time and came back for the playoffs was in the bubble, where he was a monster with per game averages of 27.9 ppg, 57% shooting, 38% 3pt, 9.7 reb, 1.4 blocks. If he can come back healthy, in shape and motivated then he could be a difference maker for a playoff team. Especially in the East where it's not as top heavy this year. I guess I'm saying that, if you squint, you can see where AD has trade value this season rather than waiting until this summer.

I'm not a GM, but if you can't get a nice haul, then get a few nice assets to work with re-building the team and step away from the Rich Paul distractions.

[Mavs2021]

I think AD is a great talent, maybe one of the best big men in the league, but I'm OK with moving on from the nightly injury watch and start working to build a new team. We could stop holding out collective breath every time he takes a fall (which is a LOT). It would also remove the constant reminder of Nico's Folly and let us look to the future.

In AD's defense, the last time he missed a ton of regular season time and came back for the playoffs was in the bubble, where he was a monster with per game averages of 27.9 ppg, 57% shooting, 38% 3pt, 9.7 reb, 1.4 blocks. If he can come back healthy, in shape and motivated then he could be a difference maker for a playoff team. Especially in the East where it's not as top heavy this year. I guess I'm saying that, if you squint, you can see where AD has trade value this season rather than waiting until this summer.

I'm not a GM, but if you can't get a nice haul, then get a few nice assets to work with re-building the team and step away from the Rich Paul distractions.

That´s why they´ll gladly give the Mavs salary matching contracts and nothing else.

Also maybe I just don´t see it. He´s not even a top 50 offensive player. If we made Jaden Hardy, Brandon Williams or DAR our #1 option and gave them 30 MPG, they´d average 20 PPG like AD.

[rocky164]

Like many of you I’m sick and tired of AD. I didn’t want him here to begin with which only makes my frustration worse. BUT….This latest injury has ruined his trade value. It’s extremely poor asset management to trade him now. So screw AD and what he wants. AD is a center and not a 4. Any time he’s available to play, he plays the 5. He must remain a Maverick until his trade value recovers if or when that ever happens. Any extension will not even be discussed until he proves he can play the 5 effectively and remain healthy. It all this means keeping AD until his contract expires, then so be it. This is trade Nico made and Dumont approved. Live with it. So no trade, no extension and no more time at the 4.
So, with Lively and AD, Gafford is the odd man out. And since his style of play no longer fits, he is the one that should be traded. Personally I like the Pacer trade that has been suggested.
Keep Marshall and PJ until at least the trade deadline next year to evaluate where we are then.
If a salary dump is desired then Klay is the obvious choice along with any combination of Martin/Hardy/DAR.
Finally, hire a qualified, experienced, proven GM, so we’re never in a mess like this again.

[vfromlmf]

I think AD is a great talent, maybe one of the best big men in the league, but I'm OK with moving on from the nightly injury watch and start working to build a new team. We could stop holding out collective breath every time he takes a fall (which is a LOT). It would also remove the constant reminder of Nico's Folly and let us look to the future.

In AD's defense, the last time he missed a ton of regular season time and came back for the playoffs was in the bubble, where he was a monster with per game averages of 27.9 ppg, 57% shooting, 38% 3pt, 9.7 reb, 1.4 blocks. If he can come back healthy, in shape and motivated then he could be a difference maker for a playoff team. Especially in the East where it's not as top heavy this year. I guess I'm saying that, if you squint, you can see where AD has trade value this season rather than waiting until this summer.

I'm not a GM, but if you can't get a nice haul, then get a few nice assets to work with re-building the team and step away from the Rich Paul distractions.

Personally I don't think we've seen much of a fully engaged AD. I also question how hurt he really is. He has a history. Regardless, I have NO doubt, if he's traded to a contender, his health and performance will suddenly improve. 

He's averaging 20ppg in Dallas. Playoff AD is a 28/12 difference maker.

AD wants an extension and he's not getting one in Dallas so he's doing exactly what you'd expect. We're talking about (up to) $275 million. AD and his representation won't put that at risk by playing for a tannking team who won't give him an extenstion.

[Mavs2021]

Marion won us a title shutting down Kobe, Durant and LeBron with a pinky finger that would have AD in an medically induced coma for five years. If Dirk acted like AD, every time he turned his ankles, he´d he #600 on the all-time scoring list not #6.

[mvossman]

To me, Gafford has to stay.   We cannot keep rolling Powell out there.

Sure we can.  We are tanking.  

I find myself in a weird place.  I have been very pro trade AD for the right price, but if our choices are to trade AD for salary dump or trade Gafford for salary dump and a late first, I think I am leaning towards trading Gafford.  We can easily clear whatever cap we need between Gafford and Klay.  We would end up with more assets and the better player (although I am not looking forward to the AD injury roller coaster).