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

[F Gump]

And because of this Rich Paul should be on the phone with Atl convincing them to put together an attractive offer for AD instead of pressuring Dal to trade him for peanuts

I really don't think the Mavs are anywhere close to trading AD for a weak return. 

I know that the desire for that is high in this forum, and the mindset is that the Mavs have to just take what they can get (presumed to be close to nothing) and move on. I see many NBA fans and media saying the Mavs Brain Trust will HAVE TO take a pile of rando bodies because that's all anyone will pay. 

But I'm not getting that vibe at all that they are desperate to trade AD for whatever the market might be at this time. I think they expect a strong offer with plenty of value, and otherwise, they will keep AD and see what happens. I suspect they have also communicated to RP that the idea of an extension offer - and at what price point - is heavily tied to AD's future health and performance, linking their desire to offer him more with whether they are getting their money's worth for the last deal. 

If AD is indeed a top player, he will find a way to be better.