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

[KillerLeft]

If the Mavs plan to go back to the 48 minute center split between Lively and Gafford and play AD mostly at the 4, PJ just becomes a luxury we can’t afford. Naji is a better 3 than PJ (as are other roster options) and Flagg gets the rest of the minutes. I’m afraid PJ’s days are numbered. If Nico doesn’t move him while he has value, even for a pick and an expiring, that would be malpractice.  I wouldn’t go with the AD at the 4 plan, but it’s too late to turn back now.  Top remaining priorities should be to extricate the team from the Klay and Martin contracts and deal PJ for at least 50 cents on the dollar.

Right. If that's the plan, PJW's role is hard to envision. 

Or, if they plan to play AD at the 5 for any sort of meaningful time (as I believe they should and will), then Gafford becomes a luxury they can't afford. My thinking is that regardless of what they want to do now, it will become abundantly clear that their best lineups will be with either AD or Lively playing big alone. 

Or, maybe BOTH Gafford and PJW are luxuries they can't afford, now that Fllagg is in the mix. 

And, it's not too late to turn back now at all. I think PJW's extension (if it happens, as we expect) might affect their ability to trade him, temporarily, but Gafford's did not, which is the only reason I didn't hate it. I'm ok with this summer's approach ONLY because so far, it has bought the team time to actually see what works on the court and what doesn't. If no difference makers were out there this summer, I think it was probably wise to kick the decision can down the road just a bit.