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

[DanSchwartzgan]

Do we have any Lamello Ball believers left around here? I have an unhealthy bias against his whole family, and have always found his style pretty off-putting, so I wrote him off years ago, but there are many smart national NBA observers who seem to still be buying land on Lamello island.

That solves some things from the Dallas perspective.  His contract is large enough that it is easy enough to match salaries simply by adding expiring Connaughton.  In fact, we could send back some salary into Charlotte's exception helping our apron situation going forward and not hurt them.  I think controlling our 2027 draft would also be valuable.  And given his size, I think he can easily play alongside Kyrie.  So, check, check, check.

But, I just don't see AD fitting with the kids they are developing.  Before Ball got his new contract there was some talk that HE didn't fit the timeline.  So, AD certainly doesn't.  They just gave him long term money, so if LaMelo is outgoing, you have to believe they signed him just to maintain control and try to get value in exchange.  I don't see AD as that value.  What I might could see is AD going to some third team, Charlotte getting something that fits their timeline and some picks.  They would want to be mindful of length of contract because without Ball, they would have an absolute ton of cap space in 27/28.