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

[DanSchwartzgan]

Thanks for throwing this out.

Personally, the Jrue-Prtichard scenario would be fine with me. I don't mind Pritchard at all. He may be a hair over 6 feet, but he's a defensive pest and shoots 40% on 3s.  

The Chicago trade scenario is also good with me. Your Christie, Martin, Hardy is a nice alternative, but I doubt Chicago takes that. I'd be thrilled if they did.

A lot of what we talk about is a single player solution and they all tend to leave me wanting in some way.  Even in Free Agency, the best options to me require a couple of guys.  I think what I liked about the Chicago idea is it covers our needs.  Ball is TO the next year.  So, he's a temp filling a temporary need unless he just happens to blow us away.  He can defend and run the offense.  But outside of the fast break, he doesn't create for himself.  He's a good stopgap, if he can stay healthy, while Kyrie is out.

White is the the offensive creator that we need with the ability to play on or off the ball.  He's got more size than a lot of the alternatives to play alongside Kyrie at 6'5".  I'd love for our playoff backcourt rotation to be Kyrie, White and Christie, but I'm not sure what we'd do with Klay (who I think the team values more than I do).  I'm OK with giving up Gafford.  I suspect his minutes in Dallas would be hurt as rotations narrow in the playoffs and frontcourt minutes would be dominated by Flagg, AD, PJ and Lively.  White would be much more of a playoff contributor.

One nice thing about the Bulls is you can throw some salary their way.  One bad thing about the Bulls is Gafford has been there before.  Will he extend there?  If Gafford goes, I'd rather keep Christie and fill out the deal with Martin or Hardy/OMax.  I'm not sure White is worth Gafford and Christie (even if he fits our needs better).  I think Chicago would be smart to try to get something for Vuc if they did this (or Gafford goes to a third team and Chicago gets the trade return from them and then drafts their future center at #12).   It is hard to know what the heck Chicago wants to be when they grow up. Outside of Giddey and Williams (and anyone they get via trade or draft), their whole team expires next summer.  So, keeping themselves in position for 2026 Free Agency is probably a priority.