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

[Tyler]

The Gafford injury essentially just ended the last possible trade avenue of significance:

He's already back. 

[Jakeospikez]

Mavs tanked last year?  I saw no hint of that.  In fact it seems like Nico was rushing guys back early from injury in a desperate move to show he was right about the trade.  A behavior he continued to display early this season and got him fired.

Again, believe what you want but this is just my opinion and I say yes. Right out the gate AD destroyed the Rockets and has his mysterious injury late and leaves the game. Gone for 1 1/2 to 2 months. If those random injuries like this finger thing happen again to him next season then I'll believe they're real but I don't think they were actually major injuries. Also the terrible Grimes+2nd/Martin trade to me was a tank move. Grimes playing too well and playing hungry for his next contract, he'd be trying way too hard the entire year imo.

This year needs to be over because the stuff teams are doing to tank for this draft class is annoying af.

[mvossman]

Again, believe what you want but this is just my opinion and I say yes. Right out the gate AD destroyed the Rockets and has his mysterious injury late and leaves the game. Gone for 1 1/2 to 2 months. If those random injuries like this finger thing happen again to him next season then I'll believe they're real but I don't think they were actually major injuries. Also the terrible Grimes+2nd/Martin trade to me was a tank move. Grimes playing too well and playing hungry for his next contract, he'd be trying way too hard the entire year imo.

This year needs to be over because the stuff teams are doing to tank for this draft class is annoying af.

They brought back AD a lot earlier than the Lakers were planning to and stated they were planning on playing him 38 minutes in his first game back (which was his current rate before the injury).  Its no surprise he got injured again.  Kidd didn't like Grimes and didn't play him.  That's why he blew up after the trade.  There was no hint they were trying to hold guys out.  They put Lively on the floor with a broken foot. Even with the AD injury that team had no chance of making the lottery until the Kyrie injury (don't tell me you think he faked that).  They still made it to the last play-in game.  There was no evidence this team was trying to tank at any point last season.

I have seen this logic a lot.  Folks can't believe that Nico was this incompetent so there must be something else a foot.  I think the simple reality is that he was that incompetent.  No conspiracy theories, no ulterior motives, such straight up incompetence.

[loki]

He has been since he got here.  He has had 8 opportunities to play more than 5 games in a row since he got here and has failed every time.  That is a very disturbing pattern for a big man about to turn 33.

The AD passed to Riccardi, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of Co-GMs are easily corrupted, and a Street Clothes has a will of its own.

[windjc]

They need to get lucky in the lottery again.  With the crap team and crap ownership and crap draft pick situation, I am about close to done.

Good. Bye.

[Jakeospikez]

They brought back AD a lot earlier than the Lakers were planning to and stated they were planning on playing him 38 minutes in his first game back (which was his current rate before the injury).  Its no surprise he got injured again.  Kidd didn't like Grimes and didn't play him.  That's why he blew up after the trade.  There was no hint they were trying to hold guys out.  They put Lively on the floor with a broken foot. Even with the AD injury that team had no chance of making the lottery until the Kyrie injury (don't tell me you think he faked that).  They still made it to the last play-in game.  There was no evidence this team was trying to tank at any point last season.

I have seen this logic a lot.  Folks can't believe that Nico was this incompetent so there must be something else a foot.  I think the simple reality is that he was that incompetent.  No conspiracy theories, no ulterior motives, such straight up incompetence.

Grimes was efficient here, he was doing great despite limited minutes. I don't buy the GM being a total moron taking on 3 years of bad taxed salary over keeping an RFA that potentially had a future role here or just could expire. Not gonna bother getting into the rest of the Nico stupidity and all the other stuff. I just hope the ethically stealth tank finishes well this year and the Mavs get someone good. Flagg is looking great and there's no more funny external bs next season.

[mvossman]

Grimes was efficient here, he was doing great despite limited minutes. I don't buy the GM being a total moron taking on 3 years of bad taxed salary over keeping an RFA that potentially had a future role here or just could expire. Not gonna bother getting into the rest of the Nico stupidity and all the other stuff. I just hope the ethically stealth tank finishes well this year and the Mavs get someone good. Flagg is looking great and there's no more funny external bs next season.

I mean if you are doing a stealth tank, why would you take on 3 years of bad salary and trigger the repeater tax just to dump a good player?  If the goal was to lose games and tank it was still a brutally stupid trade.  

I'm afraid Mavs are getting more competition in the tankathon.   Memphis is clearly there now and the Bucks are sure to follow.

[Smitty]

Just to recap the deals that have already been made before the deadline…

Wizards get: Trae Young
Hawks get: CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert
 
Cavs get: Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder
Kings get: De'Andre Hunter
Bulls get: Dario Šarić, Cleveland second-round pick in 2027 and Sacramento second-round pick in 2029
 
Blazers get: Vit Krejci
Hawks get: Duop Reath and two second-round picks
 
Jazz get: Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr.
Grizzlies get: Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks: most favorable of 2027 Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers or Minnesota Timberwolves; Los Angeles Lakers' 2027 first-round pick; Phoenix Suns' 2031 first-round pick.
 
Bulls get: Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley Jr.
Pistons get: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, 2026 first-round protected swap from Timberwolves
 
Bulls get: Anfernee Simons, a second-round pick
Celtics get: Nikola Vučević, a second-round pick
 
Clippers get: Darius Garland and a second-round pick
Cavaliers get: James Harden



And a recap of some of the framework for potential deals we’ve discussed here…

AD deals:
ATL—Porzingis, Kennard, Risacher/Newell, FRP
TOR—Barrett+Poeltl/Quickley, FRP
GSW— Kuminga, Draymond, Hield/Moody, FRP
CLE— Mobley, Strus/Ball
 
Gafford deals:
IND— Mathurin (RFA)
ATL— Kennard (expiring), FRP
CHI— White (UFA)
CHA/LAL/GSW/TOR interest also
 
Klay deals:
SAS— Olynyk (expiring), SRP
LAC— Bogdanovic (expiring), SRP
DET— LeVert, SRPs OR Huerter (expiring) FOR Klay, Naji, FRP
 
Naji deals:
DET— Saric (expiring), FRP
OKC— Dort, Dieng, FRP FOR Naji, Klay
CHI— Collins (expiring) FOR Naji, Martin
MIA— Rozier (expiring), Larsson, Johnson FOR Naji, Klay, Martin
 
DLO deals: Send cash and/or SRP to any team that is willing and able.

[Chicagojk]

I think the bucks should hold firm on any Giannis deal.   I believe this summer Miami, GS and Minny could all offer the same offers.  I think Miami can increase their offer.    Then you may have some other teams getting involved.   I think one of SA or Houston may wind up being disappointed in their playoff run.

The only issue is that Giannis may have more power to push to certain teams with one year left on his contract.  Although he appears fine with either Miami or Minny.   

As far Dallas goes, I only make a deal where I feel like I getting assets to my liking back.    I see no rush now.  I would love to move Klay though.   He deserves to be on a better team the next two years.

[BigDirk41]

Naji deals:
DET— Saric (expiring), FRP
OKC— Dort, Dieng, FRP FOR Naji, Klay
CHI— Collins (expiring) FOR Naji, Martin
MIA— Rozier (expiring), Larsson, Johnson FOR Naji, Klay, Martin

I'm just now seeing these Dort trade rumors. Why in the world do they want to trade Dort? Is it just financial? He's a defensive monster.

[mvossman]

As far Dallas goes, I only make a deal where I feel like I getting assets to my liking back.    I see no rush now.  I would love to move Klay though.   He deserves to be on a better team the next two years.

From a negotiating standpoint I get the "no rush" mindset, but from a reality standpoint I think they are going to back themselves into a fairly big corner for the new GM if they don't do anything this TDL.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

We've been in no rush mode for 9 months now, since we won the lottery. In that time, the value of every player on the roster has gone down. And they are facing being one of the worst teams in the NBA with one of the highest paid rosters. The Mavs negotiating power is going down, not up. By this summer, they will be in desperation mode.

[Smitty]

@TheDunkCentral

The Grizzlies have dramatically dropped their asking price for Ja Morant and are eager to ship him out to start a rebuild around Zach Edey and Cedric Coward, per @TheSteinLine & @JakeLFischer


“Yet multiple rival teams have said this week that the Grizzlies' asking price for Morant has dropped dramatically, with Memphis officials apparently eager now to just move on from its longtime Face of the Franchise to truly launch their rebuild around second-year big man Zach Edey and rookie swingman Cedric Coward.”

[Smitty]

@esidery
The Warriors were monitoring Jaren Jackson Jr. as a potential trade deadline target, if they missed out on Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @ShamsCharania.

With the Jazz swooping in out of nowhere to secure JJJ, it’s down to Giannis or nothing for Golden State over the next 24+ hours.

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
OKC— Dort, Dieng, FRP FOR Naji, Klay
 
I'm just now seeing these Dort trade rumors. Why in the world do they want to trade Dort? Is it just financial? He's a defensive monster.

It's financial.  Dort and IH are TO's this summer and free the next season.  Dieng is free this summer.  OKC is getting to be an expensive team and has to decide who to keep and who to churn for cheaper (or cost controlled) alternatives.

[Smitty]

@TheDunkCentral

The Pacers and Bulls have discussed an Ayo Dosunmu-for-Bennedict Mathurin swap, per @JakeLFischer

“League sources say that there has been some tangible discussion this week between Chicago and Indiana on a possible Dosunmu-for-Bennedict Mathurin swap. Yet it's unclear what affect the Bulls' Tuesday business might have on those talks.”

[mvossman]

Just to recap the deals that have already been made before the deadline…
 
Naji deals:
CHI— Collins (expiring) FOR Naji, Martin
 

Man, I think they need to shed some cap, but giving away Naji just to get off Martin deal is too far in my opinion.

[DanSchwartzgan]

@TheDunkCentral

The Pacers and Bulls have discussed an Ayo Dosunmu-for-Bennedict Mathurin swap, per @JakeLFischer

“League sources say that there has been some tangible discussion this week between Chicago and Indiana on a possible Dosunmu-for-Bennedict Mathurin swap. Yet it's unclear what affect the Bulls' Tuesday business might have on those talks.”

It feels like Chicago wants some certainty rather than having Coby White and Dosunmu (both UFA).  Someone who is restricted makes sense.  It could be Mathurin or Ivey, but I doubt both.  I'm not sure the benefit of having White and Simons.  Carrying both to the summer doesn't make much sense to me.

[omahen]

It feels like Chicago wants some certainty rather than having Coby White and Dosunmu (both UFA).  Someone who is restricted makes sense.  It could be Mathurin or Ivey, but I doubt both.  I'm not sure the benefit of having White and Simons.  Carrying both to the summer doesn't make much sense to me.

I think White will certainly traded. Simons I guess just doesn't have the market with his contract. So unless Chicago jumps for some big salary guy, he will stay and test FA market. 

As for Ayo there were reports they like him a lot (there is a lot to like), but it could also just be posturing to drive up his price. No one will give a fortune for a guy that will be UFA in a couple of months.

[mvossman]

@esidery
The Warriors were monitoring Jaren Jackson Jr. as a potential trade deadline target, if they missed out on Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @ShamsCharania.

With the Jazz swooping in out of nowhere to secure JJJ, it’s down to Giannis or nothing for Golden State over the next 24+ hours.

No mention of AD?