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

[DanSchwartzgan]

The Hawks can't include CJ or Kispert with those two in an AD trade, and they aren't going to include Johnson, Naw, or Daniels. The only two remaining that make more than $3M are Risacher and Okongwu. Adding either of those two requires the Mavs send out at least one more player, as they can't take back more money in a trade. 

The Mavs could send up to $7,583,222 more in salary and keep the Hawks below the Tax Line, if Risacher is the 3rd player. 
The Mavs could send up to $9,385,502 more in salary and keep the Hawks below the Tax Line, if Okongwu is the 3rd player.

And, The Mavs could sent up to $11,583,222 more and keep the Hawks below the Tax Line if Kennard isn't included and KP, Okongwu and Risacher are?  The problem for ATL is any deal that sends OO out with KP leaves them too thin at Center.  Those deals are theoretically possible, but unlikely IMHO.  My first post after the Trae Trade was that Atlanta really limited their options on  an AD deal.  They can tell people they won't deal Risacher, but if they are doing an AD deal with the intention of winning this year, it kind of has to be Risacher in the outgoing.

The other player who makes more than the minimum is Newell.  So, sending him out and replacing him with a minimum deal adds spread above the tax to the tune of $941,206 (using Exum as the outgoing in a 4/3).  

So, in a deal that is KP, Kennard, Risacher and Newell for AD and Exum, The Mavs could send up to $8,524,428 more in salary and keep the Hawks  below the Tax Line.  That means Russell or Hardy and there is still room for Atlanta to back fill with another Vet Minimum guy.  

Dallas can rightly say your tax is not my problem (and potentially kill the deal since ATL never pays tax).  Dallas could also add almost $8mm cash to the deal.  Remember, it isn't' the actual tax that is the issue.  It is forgoing the estimated $14mm of payments from the league for being a non-taxpaying team.