Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

If he's really cheap, sure.  He had a nice 20 game stretch to close the season and into the playoffs, but if he can be a good shooter is a big question mark and his got some injury history in his short time in the league.

The price to acquire would absolutely have an effect on my excitement over a Scoot trade, agreed.

[mvossman]

The price to acquire would absolutely have an effect on my excitement over a Scoot trade, agreed.

I would have rather sent those three seconds for Scoot than Aldama for example (but that would have been my limit).

[KillerLeft]

I would have rather sent those three seconds for Scoot than Aldama for example (but that would have been my limit).

Well, both teams seem safely away from the tax line, so I doubt the path to Henderson is or was ever a salary dump, at least now that the Grant contract is gone. 

I think the connection is: Dallas has too many forwards and bigs, Portland has too many guards. 

I'm sure it's relatively easy to build a deal, mathematically, around any of PJW, Gafford or Naji Marshall. How would you feel about any of those deals, provided the details didn't break too far in Portland's favor too much? Which would be your preference? Which do you think Portland would prefer?

[Smitty]

@BrettSiegelNBA
Anfernee Simons had deals on the table from Miami and Golden State.

The Warriors were offering him a minimum contract as they wait for word from LeBron James, sources told @ClutchPoints.

Simons wanted nothing less than $6M a year on a new deal, which is exactly what he gets.



For a team that needs Guard help, it stings seeing Simons go for $6m on just a short 2-year deal. Same for Sexton and his $9m/yr for 2 years. What are the Mavs cooking up in the trade market??

[mvossman]

Well, both teams seem safely away from the tax line, so I doubt the path to Henderson is or was ever a salary dump, at least now that the Grant contract is gone. 

I think the connection is: Dallas has too many forwards and bigs, Portland has too many guards. 

I'm sure it's relatively easy to build a deal, mathematically, around any of PJW, Gafford or Naji Marshall. How would you feel about any of those deals, provided the details didn't break too far in Portland's favor too much? Which would be your preference? Which do you think Portland would prefer?

Naji makes the most sense from a salary standpoint.  I would make that trade.

[Mavs2021]

@BrettSiegelNBA
Anfernee Simons had deals on the table from Miami and Golden State.

The Warriors were offering him a minimum contract as they wait for word from LeBron James, sources told @ClutchPoints.

Simons wanted nothing less than $6M a year on a new deal, which is exactly what he gets.



For a team that needs Guard help, it stings seeing Simons go for $6m on just a short 2-year deal. Same for Sexton and his $9m/yr for 2 years. What are the Mavs cooking up in the trade market??

So he´s going to Miami? Are people losing the ability to write without AI or are they too lazy to read the AI generated texts before they tweet them.

Also if we could have gotten Sexton and Simons for 15M combined this could have been a decent team. I still don´t see the vision.

[Moviemavguy]

@BrettSiegelNBA
Anfernee Simons had deals on the table from Miami and Golden State.

The Warriors were offering him a minimum contract as they wait for word from LeBron James, sources told @ClutchPoints.

Simons wanted nothing less than $6M a year on a new deal, which is exactly what he gets.



For a team that needs Guard help, it stings seeing Simons go for $6m on just a short 2-year deal. Same for Sexton and his $9m/yr for 2 years. What are the Mavs cooking up in the trade market??

I don't think the Mavs were ever in on the Simons thing.  Stein doesn't seem to have the inside juice he once had.

[KillerLeft]

Naji makes the most sense from a salary standpoint.  I would make that trade.

According to Fanspo's machine, it works, straight up. 

Personally, I think POR would want PJW the most - they already have a better version of Marshall in Advija - and when you look at the Mavs' long term salary situation and front court logjam I think it makes a ton of sense. You'd kind of have to dump either PJW or Gafford to justify paying Henderson after this season (assuming you'd want to), and PJW replaces a little of what they just sent out in Grant (at a much more reasonable price point). 

Personally, I'd do that one, too, but I'm guessing many here wouldn't.

[Scott41theMavs]

According to Fanspo's machine, it works, straight up. 

Personally, I think POR would want PJW the most - they already have a better version of Marshall in Advija - and when you look at the Mavs' long term salary situation and front court logjam I think it makes a ton of sense. You'd kind of have to dump either PJW or Gafford to justify paying Henderson after this season (assuming you'd want to), and PJW replaces a little of what they just sent out in Grant (at a much more reasonable price point). 

Personally, I'd do that one, too, but I'm guessing many here wouldn't.

*If* Schmitz thinks Scoot has potential, I would absolutely do it, and I like PJW.

[KillerLeft]

*If* Schmitz thinks Scoot has potential, I would absolutely do it, and I like PJW.

TOTALLY agree with your *if*, and that's the part we just can't and don't know.

[Smitty]

According to Fanspo's machine, it works, straight up. 

Personally, I think POR would want PJW the most - they already have a better version of Marshall in Advija - and when you look at the Mavs' long term salary situation and front court logjam I think it makes a ton of sense. You'd kind of have to dump either PJW or Gafford to justify paying Henderson after this season (assuming you'd want to), and PJW replaces a little of what they just sent out in Grant (at a much more reasonable price point). 

Personally, I'd do that one, too, but I'm guessing many here wouldn't.

It would be hard to stomach, but I can see the reasoning. The follow up there would be that they give Naji a big extension? That makes it even tougher. I guess that's why I had Naji outgoing in my fantasy trade idea earlier.

[KillerLeft]

It would be hard to stomach, but I can see the reasoning. The follow up there would be that they give Naji a big extension? That makes it even tougher. I guess that's why I had Naji outgoing in my fantasy trade idea earlier.

I don't know what to do with Marshall in this reality, to your point. 

Based on how they're operating so far, I'm not sure I'd let that stop me. 

For the record, I'd do this deal if it was built around Marshall, Gafford OR PJW (with Scott's *IF* in mind, of course) and then figure out the next move afterwards.

[mvossman]

It would be hard to stomach, but I can see the reasoning. The follow up there would be that they give Naji a big extension? That makes it even tougher. I guess that's why I had Naji outgoing in my fantasy trade idea earlier.

I think Killer is right that PJ probably makes more sense for them.  That doesn't preclude moving Naji for somebody else (like a 3&D wing).

[Scott41theMavs]

Silly me - forgot Scoot or Sharpe. Mavs have lots of pivots if they don’t get Simons. Anthony Black would be nice too, depending on trade price. Of those six:
1) Wallace
2) Scoot (supreme upside, if Schmitz signs off)
3) Black
4) Mathurin
5) Simons
6) Sharpe

Any one of them would be many times better than not getting any of them.

To revise, I would now say
1) Wallace
2) Scoot
3) Jrue (price dependent)
4) Black
5) Mathurin
6) Sharpe

Pretty much all of these are on contract, right? So nobody realistic left on the FA market?

[Chicagojk]

The direction the Trail blazers go is almost as interesting in the direction Dallas goes.   They had their taste of the playoffs last year and no doubt want to improve on that.  That is a tough ask in the west.   

Holiday is excellent.   36 years old though.   He has one more year left on his contract and then a player option.  Is he looking for a new contract?   He would seem to be the most fitable with different parts.   Throw him with another point guard.  Have him defend wings.    Have him handle the ball.  Have him off the ball.  I think he fits with a lot of lineups and probably the easiest to get minutes.   

Ja and franchise hero Dame will get minutes until they prove they can't play or don't fit.   It will take some time.

Sharpe is looking at a crowded backcourt and wing scenario.    Their best player, Deni, and Camara will get most of the 3 minutes.  Jrue will get some.    Deni will also get minutes at the 4, but there is a hole behind him.   Tough to find a ton of minutes for Sharpe.   The previous coach lost faith in him and he didn't play much in the playoffs.  This with a new 4 year contract, may make him moveable.

Lastly Scoot is entering a crucial year.  He wants a extension.  It will be hard for him to get a lot of minutes.   Unlike Jrue, it will be tough or him to play with Ja and Dame.    

I think one of Sharpe or Scoot is moved before the season.  I am leaning towards Sharpe.

[KillerLeft]

The only idea we've talked about this summer that I MIGHT like better than this one is Cason Wallace, only...he's guaranteed to more expensive to lock down on his next deal, will almost surely involve significant draft capital outgoing (I'm hopeful a POR deal could be pretty reasonable on that front) and - last but not least - we're only guessing that he's the guy OKC is willing to move.

[Smitty]

I don't know what to do with Marshall in this reality, to your point. 

Based on how they're operating so far, I'm not sure I'd let that stop me. 

For the record, I'd do this deal if it was built around Marshall, Gafford OR PJW (with Scott's *IF* in mind, of course) and then figure out the next move afterwards.

I'm not sure, because I've lost track of all the moves, but Spotrac has POR just ~$9m below the tax and 13 roster spots. PJ for Scoot adds ~$6m to their side, leaving them with a VetMin spot to get to 14. We know their owner isn't paying tax... The Naji one saves them ~$4m, leaving them with almost enough to use the full MLE in another trade or FA signing.

All I know for sure is that owner is CHEAP. I think I'd look to use that to my advantage.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'm not sure, because I've lost track of all the moves, but Spotrac has POR just ~$9m below the tax and 13 roster spots. PJ for Scoot adds ~$6m to their side, leaving them with a VetMin spot to get to 14. We know their owner isn't paying tax... The Naji one saves them ~$4m, leaving them with almost enough to use the full MLE in another trade or FA signing.

All I know for sure is that owner is CHEAP. I think I'd look to use that to my advantage.

3D chess, Smitty. Really appreciate what you bring here.

[KillerLeft]

I'm not sure, because I've lost track of all the moves, but Spotrac has POR just ~$9m below the tax and 13 roster spots. PJ for Scoot adds ~$6m to their side, leaving them with a VetMin spot to get to 14. We know their owner isn't paying tax... The Naji one saves them ~$4m, leaving them with almost enough to use the full MLE in another trade or FA signing.

All I know for sure is that owner is CHEAP. I think I'd look to use that to my advantage.

That's a great point. I don't think it's a conversation ender re PJW's fit there, but definitely worth factoring into the conversation. Fanspo's trade machine info must not be as current. 

If we pull that cheap owner thread, my takeaway is more about them wanting to unload Sharpe, who has 4 years remaining at roughly $20 mil? Would you do PJW (or Gafford, or Marshall) for him instead? 

There's just so much connection here at the moment, given the roster imbalances of both teams being complementary and Schmitz having an intimate knowledge of both rosters. I'd probably be fine with either one - his choice.

[KillerLeft]

That's a great point. I don't think it's a conversation ender re PJW's fit there, but definitely worth factoring into the conversation. Fanspo's trade machine info must not be as current. 

If we pull that cheap owner thread, my takeaway is more about them wanting to unload Sharpe, who has 4 years remaining at roughly $20 mil? Would you do PJW (or Gafford, or Marshall) for him instead? 

There's just so much connection here at the moment, given the roster imbalances of both teams being complementary and Schmitz having an intimate knowledge of both rosters. I'd probably be fine with either one - his choice.

Just to add to this:

I suppose you could make the argument that Jrue Holiday is an even more obvious choice to be outgoing, but I think Portland is really trying to be good right now and I believe that they believe his defense will make a difference as part of the obviously ridiculous Lillard/Morant guard rotation. And, I personally wouldn't be that excited about adding him to the Mavericks at this time.

Let's say this IS their vision, just for conversation's sake: I'd argue that in this vision, the addition of Aldama makes Daniel Gafford's presence on this roster make MORE sense, not less. Just one example of why I'm not going to waste too much energy thinking about 5-man groups until the dust has cleared, somewhat.