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

[SleepingHero]

Is there a number at which Kuminga goes to Chicago, PJ goes to GSW and Coby White comes to Dallas.  Something like $20mm keeps the Chicago part of this within the $7.5mm rule.  Dallas drops about $1.2mm further below the second apron.

GSW just needs too many bodies to reserve the Full MLE while taking back someone like PJ.  I've seen speculation that Horford would take the smaller MLE and Melton would take a minimum.  So, that part works.  I could easily see PJ being someone the Warriors would be interested in.

I think that'd be a horrific trade for the Mavs, given that PJ has proven to already affect winning more than White. 

Further, White is about to be an UFA and more than likely seeking an annual salary worth way higher than a probable PJ extension will be. 

Finally, after the trade, the Mavs have White, DLo, and Kyrie on the roster. Super solid backcourt for sure, but Kyrie isn't sacrificing minutes and I don't see White being happy having to fight for minutes in a contract year.

White has always been a non-starter for me since DLo was signed. We have our starting guard for next season until Kyrie comes back. No reason to make permanent changes for a temporary solution. 

Now, since the Bulls are getting Kuminga in this deal, perhaps the Warriors are more interested in depth than 1 talent. Kuminga was a bench player for them and looking at their roster, the amount of available NBA talent is...miniscule to say the least. Hardy+Christie+OMax makes way more sense for the Warriors than just PJ.

That deal solves the Mavs roster issue and also adds a relatively capable guard. It also keeps their own costs low in terms of assets sent since White is going to be a UFA.