Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[loki]

You are referring to Masai's MO post winning a championship with a team that he built.  His MO when taking over a team and trying to build a championship is very different.  He traded away a big name player early, make great draft picks (many times in late first) made several small trades to improve the roster, and when he was ready made the big trade to get the chip.

If he follows that same path with the Mavs, he will kill this draft, trade Kyrie at the TDL for assets, make quality picks in late first round for the next several years, and make smaller trades (guys like Gafford, PJ and Naji) to slowly improve the roster.  He won't have to make a Kawhi like trade because he already has the superstar alpha on the team, but he may decide in a few years that he needs to make a big trade for a Robin to get over the hump.  Maybe he decides to go plan powder this time, but there is nothing in his history (or his words) to suggest he will go that route.

I'm not advocating "plan powder". They don't have to completely clear the deck or turn down options to improve the team if they exist. They just have to avoid the exact mistakes that Masai has been making for years like overpaying replaceable role players. I hope he does almost all of what you're suggesting. Right now we're in the honeymoon phase where Masai can do no wrong and all his bad decisions can be explained away. We'll see how long it lasts.