Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[michaeltex]

Just to reset prior to FA and the draft...

For next season, according to BR, DAL currently has 8 guaranteed contracts ($'s are approximate):

Irving               $39.5M
Thompson        $17.5M
Gafford             $17.3M
Washington       $19.8M
Flagg                $14.5M
Martin               $10.0M
Marshall            $9.4M
Christie             $8.3M

2 TO's to decide on:

Lively                $7.2M
Johnson            $3.2M (BR has him as a TO this year, but I'm not sure that is correct)

2 Dead Money:

McGee               $2.2M
Prosper              $1.0M

Lively's TO will be exercised, I'd just let Johnson walk if it really is a TO. If they do that the current 9 guaranteed slots + 2 Dead money payroll  is $146.7. Add n another $9M for #9 and #30 and you get to $155.7M, $158.9 if you have to include Johnson. Adding 2 picks + Johnson gets you to 12 contracts. I have not clue how/if TE's affect these numbers.

For next season, the projected cap targets are:

• Salary Cap: $165 million
  
• Salary Floor: $149 million
  
• Luxury Tax Level: $201 million
  
• First Apron: $209million
  
• Second Apron: $222 million 
  

Key Exceptions and Spending Power

• Non-Taxpayer MLE: $15.049 million
  
• Taxpayer MLE: ~$6.1 million
  
• Bi-Annual Exception: $5.478 million
  

What about the team FA's from last year?
Williams - Fun experiment whose time has passed?
Middleton - Solid bench vet at the right price?
Bagley - Late bloomer finally finding his comfort zone but maybe too pricey now?
Cisse - Insurance against Lively/Gafford injuries?
Nembhard - is he worth more than the minimum right now?
Poulakidas - Did he show enough to warrant another look, maybe another 2-way?

A lot of decisions for the new MBT to make over the next month. Should get interesting.