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

[Smitty]

Could you do a full reset and offer Davis, Gafford, Naji for Expirings, Risacher, Okongwu, CLE FRP?

Why the Hawks do it: You don’t trade for AD to “tank”, this season or next. Gafford fills the hole at Center and provides more of what they need there than OO, while Naji fills the bench Wing role that ZR would be leaving. You get to capitalize on your big expirings contracts this TDL in KP and Kennard.

The Mavs go into next season with zero financial issues, which is where a non-contending team should be. They get much younger and start to build a team that is clearly and only Flagg’s.

Kyrie (33) - Nembhard (22) - Top 20 FRP
Christie (22) - Klay (35)
Risacher (20) - Top 8 FRP
Flagg (19) - PJW (27)
Lively (21) - Okongwu (25)

Only Kyrie and Klay in your top 10 are “old”.
This is putting all your assets in one basket for a full reset. I like the roster and fit of the above though… Lively’s health would be the biggest X-factor going forward!

This was where my head was at last night. The full reset I referenced. Looking at the financials for next year and the impact on this hypothetical:

15 roster spots totals ~$173.6M, assuming the above plus DLO, Martin, Hardy, VetMin Center. This not only moves them below the Aprons, but well out of the tax entirely. Saving nearly $175M in payroll + tax.

If the Mavs do nothing next year, they are projected to have a payroll of ~$225M. The tax bill alone would be another ~$125M.


For the Hawks, this would be their depth chart:

Daniels | McCollum
NAW | Vit
Naji | Kispert
Johnson | Gueye
Davis | Gafford | Asa

Then they get to add the #1 Pick (currently) to that squad next year... Dybantsa slotted in for Naji? Or Peterson in for Daniels? Whew!


Edit: To solve the 4-3 lopsided trade, before FGump yells at me. The Mavs could waive Kennard or agree to a buyout, as well as waive Exum to then sign Nembhard this season. They would have the flexibility to do so under A2 post-trade.