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

[omahen]

Part of me wonders what things around the league might have been held up waiting for the Beal destination.  Could part of the "Dallas trade in 48 hours" talk be about this.  

For instance, GSW only has 10 players under contract right now with some FA business still to be done. If they were waiting on Beal, are they now free to proceed with Plan B?  I wouldn't exactly call them loaded at C and PF.

I think main cog for GSW is Kuminga. They have 170 mil of salary for current 9 players. If they trade Kuminga without salary back, they could have access to their full MLE. If they receive (or resign him) at around 10 mil, they only have tax MLE. They are rumored for Horford, Melton and I would imagine they would both want more than vet min, which they can only do if they have access to their full MLE. 

I don't think Beal was the hold up here. They only offered vet min to him. Also, it was heavily rumored for at least a week, that he is going to Clippers. It was obvious after they traded Powell, I don't think they would made that trade without knowing Beal is coming.

Beal himself was just waiting for 15th, when a large of his salary (some 13 mil or so) was scheduled to be transfered to his account.