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

[F Gump]

Goodness, what would that trade look like? LeBron has a no-trade clause, so...

SUMMARY. In simplified math, the core of the trade could in theory be a package of Hachimura, Vincent, Kleber. Together that's about 40.7M in expiring salary, enough to more than match Holiday at 32.4M, and enough room for LA to refill their roster with minimums.

TOO MUCH DETAIL. But match math gets complicated quickly. That's not quite a match so POR has to send more to LA (which then means no trade can happen until Jrue has been w POR for 2 months). There's also the question of POR wanting to stay under the tax line, and they are only a few mill below right now, so they don't have nearly that much extra space to offer.

Then there's also the question of value for POR, as it's unlikely they simply want to move off of Jrue's contract.

It's possible this could make more sense closer to the TDL, after POR has had Jrue's leadership for a while to perhaps impact the young players (before letting him go to open more minutes for those younger players), while a deal nearer the TDL allows LA to refill emptied roster slots with less cap cost (pro-rated minimums are smaller then).