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

[Mavs2021]

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?

Like Shaq said: I got hurt on company time. I rehab on company time.

[RGP1981]

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.

[FireNicoHarrison]

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.

None.

[RGP1981]

None.

That's a shame... because Buzelis could help the Mavs put out a long, defensive but also offensively talented lineup for the 2026 season and beyond. Especially long 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.

[BigDirk41]

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.

I don't think they would trade him for both PJ and Lively.

[loki]

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.

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.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

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.

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.

[SkenfromLMF]

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.

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

[Mavs2021]

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

Not only that. 

They (Kidd, Finley, Cuban etc.) can all try pretend they had nothing to do with the Luka trade, but I think Dumont is self-aware enough to understand he does not know enough of basketball. When the whole basketball world (opposing teams, fans, media) think Shams has been hacked, and Cuban/Kidd/Finley collectively had gone to him and told him it´s a dumb idea....Dumont would have ordered them to fail the Davis medical and rescind the trade. They all wanted this for their own selfish reasons.

[mvossman]

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.

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.

[loki]

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.

I'm not sure the MLE will cut it. I think Watson is likely to get better offers around the league. He's also a restricted free agent and Denver could probably find a way to shed a little salary and match at that price. I'm all for using the TPE if that gets it done (max 4yrs/$90.5M). 

In my S&T example though you don't necessarily have to send any salary to Denver if they don't want Naji. He just seemed like a cheap replacement they might be able to afford. It could be purely draft capital going their way if PJ is sent to a 3rd team with cap space (or if the TPE is used instead). I think PJ is a pretty expensive backup PF, so I'd look at moving him for draft assets regardless of whether a Watson deal is possible.

[loki]

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.

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.

[mvossman]

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.

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.

[loki]

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.

I'm in agreement if that's where it stays, but he's only 23 years old. The odds that he could increase his volume are a lot higher than a 28 year old Naji. If you wait until the volume goes up and he's still hitting a high % it's probably too late to get him. That's why I wanted Anthony Black last offseason despite his poor 3pt%. Now Orlando isn't letting him go.

[Smitty]

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.

[vfromlmf]

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

[mvossman]

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

Problem is the Mavs don't have an asset worth a lottery pick (other than Flagg).  That's what makes this next draft so important.  Its their last chance to build significantly through the draft.  If they miss on that, then the next step is to pool assets for a big trade (see KP).  If that doesn't work then they will have to take a gamble on a distressed asset (Kyrie).  Whatever they do, they need to make sure they don't let elite talent just walk (Brunson).

[HoosierDaddyKid]

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.

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.

[omahen]

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.

I think Bucks are a team most desperate to find a gem from some vet min reclamation projects and are willing to give him every opportunity for the remainder of the season. This is their only way to improve their team in the short term in their dreams of keeping Giannis

[michaeltex]

Read an article today by an OKC writer and he's postulating that OKC might be looking to move Hartenstein in the off-season. He's on a TO for $28.5M next season, but the team is sitting on a payroll of $250M+ for next season and $220M+ the following season (with only 11 contracts). These numbers don't include the impact of this summer's draft picks.

Speculation was that Hartenstein was moveable and the departure of AD combined with the uncertainty of Lively's availability and DAL's interest in using Gaff for getting more draft capital. TBH I think it's part of, what I perceive, is a league wide disdain for DAL MBT, despite Nico's departure. I'm certainly not up for paying that much for a player that doesn't bring more dominance than he does.

Also read where Exum is getting cut. Guessing his time in the NBA is done.