Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[ACMFFL]

I am not sure his contract really is that great in the apron world. I would clame his contract is on an upper side based on his age and projected role on a contender. Not overpaid, but also not great. PJ is a good player, but not more than a 4th starter on a contender. His contract is almost 90 mil for four years, that is roughly 22 mil per. Here are some similar players (all of them could also be 4th or 5th best players on a contender) and their contracts they signed this summer:
- Hachimura: 28 mil for two years (only first guaranteed)
- Eason: 81.5 mil for 5 years (16 mil per)
- Collins: 51 mil for three years (17 per), only first year guaranteed
- Champagnie: 45 mil for three years (15 per)
- Wiggins: new 33 mil for two years on top of existing PO (16.5 per for the new deal)
- Dosunmu: 112 mil for 5 years (22 per)
- McCollum: 21 mil, 1 year only

Some other borderline starters: Wade (13 per), Grimes (15 per), KP (20 per, only 2 years), Mark Williams (13 per)

These are the only contracts so far that have higher per value:
- Kessler
- Reaves
- Norman Powell (22.5 per, only 2 year deal)
- Hartenstein (25 mil per, 3 years)
- White (25 mil per, 3 years)
- Dosunmnu (22 per)

This says more about the quality of today's FA market.

I'd argue that off this list Wiggins is the only wing/forward who offers more versatily and impact on both ends of the floor than PJW. He's also 3 years older and before extending he exercised his $30.2 million player option, that's 18% of the cap..

Also Wiggins and CJ are the only two players on that list that proved to be legit starter/4th best players on a contender.
JC and Hachi are situational borderline starter on a good team, they are not ideal starters for a legit contender unless team is pretty strong at the other positions; Eason had an amazing stretch of elite shooting this season but in the end he reverted to his career average (35% on 4.6 attempts per 36', slightly worse efficiency and volume than PJ who is a career 35.4% shooter on 5.6 attempts) , also he struggles to stay healthy even more than PJ does (he averaged 9.5 games played per year less than PJ since he joined the league)

While I agree that his value might not be that great, it still higher than multiple 2nds/one swap and cap relief. Mavs have no need to dump future money if the market doesn't offer decent deals for him. Proven starting-caliber forwards don't grow on tree.