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

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
Dallas would essentially swap their starting center (Gafford) for Poeltl + FRP. Gafford and Poeltl make close to the same money next year; and in '27-'28 Poeltl will make about $10M more than Gaff; and Poeltl's last year is only guaranteed $5M when Gaff is guaranteed $19M. So Dallas would end up saving money if they waive Poeltl in '28-'29. Or they could keep him if he's playing well. Also keep in mind Barrett is expiring next year if you don't like him.  

I think that's an interesting way of looking at it.  

One note about Barrett...Duffy is his guy.  Is Duffy doing a deal with Dallas ever again?  Nico really screwed him over on the Luka deal.  Barrett is extension eligible this summer.

Another way of looking at your deal is you could send Poeltl to a third team rather than Gafford.  Similar list of teams seem interested.  Poeltl for Kuminga who ends up in Dallas?  Chicago for White/Jalen Smith?  Indiana?  Atlanta?

[mvossman]

All those offers that were posted, subtract one 1st rd pick and that's probably the ceiling right now. 

ATL: you'd be lucky to get Risacher.  you're not getting Risacher and a 1st

DET: not getting both Ivey and Holland.  one if you're lucky

CHI: you're not getting that first

TOR: you will probably get one 1st for taking on the Poetl deal

It just feels like an echo chamber in here without any regard for what the rest of the NBA world is saying, even people that cover the Mavs.  It's like a repeat of last summer.

I almost posted the same.  This looks more like the pre injury list.  The one exception is that I would have wanted at least 3 firsts for Toronto deal, so two looks about right now (and I would still probably rather do Risacher).

[Dirknows]

All those offers that were posted, subtract one 1st rd pick and that's probably the ceiling right now. 

ATL: you'd be lucky to get Risacher.  you're not getting Risacher and a 1st

DET: not getting both Ivey and Holland.  one if you're lucky

CHI: you're not getting that first

TOR: you will probably get one 1st for taking on the Poetl deal

It just feels like an echo chamber in here without any regard for what the rest of the NBA world is saying, even people that cover the Mavs.  It's like a repeat of last summer.

Atlanta has what 3 picks in the draft? The only likely contributor is going to be from the NOP pick. Ivey is a RFA this summer and has been hurt. More of a combo guard. I’m really not sure what to think about Holland. Chicago first would be protected. Toronto would honestly have to probably include 2 firsts cuz that Poetl deal is so terrible. I’m sure they would have protections on them. No one’s trading unprotected firsts for AD.

[vfromlmf]

Dallas has publicly stated -- THEY HAVE TOLD THE FANBASE -- what they want for AD. It's Expiring contracts + young player + pick(s)

Call me crazy but the Mavs don't have enough goodwill with the fanbase to accept anything less. Trading AD is as much a PR move as anything at this point.

As some of you have pointed out, the level of protection on any picks will matter, but maybe only to fans who read the fine print. They may end up receiving a lottery protected first. Or a first that's likely to land in the 20s via byzantine swaps. Regardless, Dallas needs to get out of the AD business and come away with something positive or it doesn't make sense to trade AD right now. This season is already shot and I suspect the Mavs would be fine if AD disappears from the news and Flagg remains the focus.

[Jakeospikez]

Absolutely not to any deal with Poeltl in it. That contract would be a worse anchor than what Bertans' was for many years. Untradeable garbage. Mavs need to show they are perfectly fine going into next year with AD+Kyrie and making a playoff push. If one of these East teams wants to try and go for it all this year, they better pay up. No garbage deals, no garbage contracts. Mavs aren't in any rush to deal AD, the East teams are. Can deal AD in the summer, next season, the season after that. He hasn't had any major catastrophic injuries, just a bunch of minor ones.

[JamesConway912]

Barrett + Quickley is infinitely better than Barrett + Poeltl from a value perspective.

Barrett can be to Cooper what Barnes should have been to Luka in his first 2-3 years. Nothing groundbreaking but a solid wing in his prime years who will not kill your playoff aspirations.

Quickley is probably a good fit here as well. He would help A LOT if Kyrie cant return to his old levels and potentially both might be playable next to each other in certain lineups.

Irving | Nembhard
Quickley | Christie
Flagg
Washington
Lively

+

1) DAL 2026 1st round draftee
2) Trade return for Gafford / Klay / Marshall
 
It would not be the end of the world to surround Cooper & the upcoming lottery pick with a bunch of solid guys in their mid 20s like PJ, Barrett, Quickley, Christie.

With the trade returns for Gaff / Naji you‘d have a few more bullets in the chamber.

I could see that team fight for the #6/7 seed.

Just don’t ever think about how you got to this roster. It will take years to get back to the level we played at.

But that would give Coop a solid group to get to work with for a few years before the contracts of Barrett / Kyrie come off the books.

Obviously if there is a way to get more from TOR you try to get it but as a baseline I am a lot less turned off about a TOR deal than I was a few weeks ago. TOR also has Gradey Dick and the their own 1st this summer (#20 right now) to work around the edges (via plugging in Naji / Gaff / Hardy / Klay).

[mvossman]

Dallas has publicly stated -- THEY HAVE TOLD THE FANBASE -- what they want for AD. It's Expiring contracts + young player + pick(s)

Call me crazy but the Mavs don't have enough goodwill with the fanbase to accept anything less. Trading AD is as much a PR move as anything at this point.

As some of you have pointed out, the level of protection on any picks will matter, but maybe only to fans who read the fine print. They may end up receiving a lottery protected first. Or a first that's likely to land in the 20s via byzantine swaps. Regardless, Dallas needs to get out of the AD business and come away with something positive or it doesn't make sense to trade AD right now. This season is already shot and I suspect the Mavs would be fine if AD disappears from the news and Flagg remains the focus.

I don't know, I think there is a significant portion of this fan base that is so tired of the AD experience they are ready to move on regardless of return.  Personally I would rather the organization do what they think makes most sense long term rather than worrying about the optics.

[Smitty]

The simplest framework for Poeltl instead of Quickley is Poeltl+Barrett+Agbaji + the pick package FOR Davis + B-Will. The Mavs would have to waive Exum, and no room for Nemby unless they also waive Powell down the line. And the Raptors would need to covert one of their two-ways to get to the minimum

Trade ideas for Gafford, Klay:

Gafford--

IND: Mathurin (RFA) FOR Gafford

Klay--

SAS: Olynyk (expiring), '26 SRP (currently #36)

If the rumored Toronto package is what ends up happening, the Mavs will have more decisions to make. I don’t think you can go into next season with Poeltl, Gafford, and Lively all on the roster. That’s a lot of money tied up in the Center position for several years and all of them are traditional Bigs. You don’t necessarily have to make a move this TDL to address it but for the sake of trade season let’s use the simplest trade ideas for Davis, Gafford, Klay and see what it looks like for next year.

Kyrie | FRP Top-10 | Nembhard
Barrett | Christie | DLO
Mathurin | Naji | Hardy
Flagg | PJW | Martin
Poeltl | Lively | (FRP via TOR or SRP via UTAH)

You’d have ~$25M to offer Mathurin Year 1 to stay below the Tax Line. Is that team a contender next year?!

[mvossman]

Barrett + Quickley is infinitely better than Barrett + Poeltl from a value perspective.

Barrett can be to Cooper what Barnes should have been to Luka in his first 2-3 years. Nothing groundbreaking but a solid wing in his prime years who will not kill your playoff aspirations.

Quickley is probably a good fit here as well. He would help A LOT if Kyrie cant return to his old levels and potentially both might be playable next to each other in certain lineups.

Irving | Nembhard
Quickley | Christie
Flagg
Washington
Lively

+

1) DAL 2026 1st round draftee
2) Trade return for Gafford / Klay / Marshall
 
It would not be the end of the world to surround Cooper & the upcoming lottery pick with a bunch of solid guys in their mid 20s like PJ, Barrett, Quickley, Christie.

With the trade returns for Gaff / Naji you‘d have a few more bullets in the chamber.

I could see that team fight for the #6/7 seed.

Just don’t ever think about how you got to this roster. It will take years to get back to the level we played at.

But that would give Coop a solid group to get to work with for a few years before the contracts of Barrett / Kyrie come off the books.

Obviously if there is a way to get more from TOR you try to get it but as a baseline I am a lot less turned off about a TOR deal than I was a few weeks ago. TOR also has Gradey Dick and the their own 1st this summer (#20 right now) to work around the edges (via plugging in Naji / Gaff / Hardy / Klay).

That Quickley contract is not good either.  He is making over 30 mil a year for the next 4 years.  You need to add a first or that package has negative value.  Toronto is looking to compete in the open East this season.  I don't think they can afford to give up their starting PG.  All they have behind him is a 23 year old kid playing 20 minutes a game.

[windjc]

I don't know, I think there is a significant portion of this fan base that is so tired of the AD experience they are ready to move on regardless of return.  Personally I would rather the organization do what they think makes most sense long term rather than worrying about the optics.

Yes, and those people are fools.

[mvossman]

If the rumored Toronto package is what ends up happening, the Mavs will have more decisions to make. I don’t think you can go into next season with Poeltl, Gafford, and Lively all on the roster. That’s a lot of money tied up in the Center position for several years and all of them are traditional Bigs. You don’t necessarily have to make a move this TDL to address it but for the sake of trade season let’s use the simplest trade ideas for Davis, Gafford, Klay and see what it looks like for next year.

Kyrie | FRP Top-10 | Nembhard
Barrett | Christie | DLO
Mathurin | Naji | Hardy
Flagg | PJW | Martin
Poeltl | Lively | (FRP via TOR or SRP via UTAH)

You’d have ~$25M to offer Mathurin Year 1 to stay below the Tax Line. Is that team a contender next year?!

That is a good team, but don't think they are contender.  I think its light on elite creation and perimeter defense.

[Smitty]

That is a good team, but don't think they are contender.  I think its light on elite creation and perimeter defense.

The defensive minded guys are mostly off the bench. I think it’s the poor health of the Bigs that keep them from being competitive. That team doesn’t lack for offensive firepower though. Entertaining at least.

[JamesConway912]

That Quickley contract is not good either.  He is making over 30 mil a year for the next 4 years.  You need to add a first or that package has negative value.  Toronto is looking to compete in the open East this season.  I don't think they can afford to give up their starting PG.  All they have behind him is a 23 year old kid playing 20 minutes a game.

It’s a bit much for his production but not terrible Imo. He is in his mid 20s, if you squeeze your eyes enough you still see some upside. 

What I like about Quickley are his PnR stats. He doesnt run a ton of plays but when he does he is efficient at it. That + his durability and (afaik) solid defense immediatedly raises the floor of this squad for the upcoming season. His salary is also flat according to bballref.com which softens the hit on your cap sheet over the years.

I am not overly enthusiastic either and would happily take back more value but I think a package around Barrett + Quickley is smth to work with.

Maybe you could plug in Naji to soften the lack of playmaking for TOR.

Poeltl OTOH is someone I would stay far away from. That is a truly bad contract. Not hard to see that turn into a stretch and waive type of situation in a year or two.

[DanSchwartzgan]

We might all be asking the wrong question.  It isn’t what will Dallas get (though obviously important).  It is who out there wants to give AD an extension.  That’s why RP has gotten so aggressive.  Would he be that aggressive if he didn’t have something in his back pocket?

[KillerLeft]

We might all be asking the wrong question.  It isn’t what will Dallas get (though obviously important).  It is who out there wants to give AD an extension.  That’s why RP has gotten so aggressive.  Would he be that aggressive if he didn’t have something in his back pocket?

Yes, that's the right question. 

And, the answers are ATL and TOR, same as it has been the past two months, I'll bet. And, ATL can't do it once those Porzingis/Kennard contracts expire. And, the TOR deals make me want to puke. I'd much rather just keep Davis than do any variation of the TOR deal I've read. I've been a little surprised CHI isn't more interested, but the fact that we haven't seen them popping up leads me to believe they're not into an extension, if they even like him at all.

SO, until I read a better idea (haven't yet), ATL is the deal I'll hope for.

[cow]

Poeltl OTOH is someone I would stay far away from. That is a truly bad contract. Not hard to see that turn into a stretch and waive type of situation in a year or two.

Maybe it is a matter of expectations, but Poeltl and other serviceable players on bad contracts is who I'd want to target if it can bring back additional future draft capital.  I don't expect this team to be in contention for a long while though.

[Dirknows]

Yes, that's the right question. 

And, the answers are ATL and TOR, same as it has been the past two months, I'll bet. And, ATL can't do it once those Porzingis/Kennard contracts expire. And, the TOR deals make me want to puke. I'd much rather just keep Davis than do any variation of the TOR deal I've read. I've been a little surprised CHI isn't more interested, but the fact that we haven't seen them popping up leads me to believe they're not into an extension, if they even like him at all.

SO, until I read a better idea (haven't yet), ATL is the deal I'll hope for.

Does Atlanta have to include Risacher with KP and Kennard to make the money work? Is that the only realistic way to make salaries work? Because Atlanta (per reports) does not want to include him in a KP trade.

[Mavs2021]

This will become a run & gun offense. Even healthy Poeltl will be a poor fit.

[vfromlmf]

Expectations may need to change. This team is years away from contending. My take on Poeltl is hey, OKC built their team based on the ole “Send Me Your Bad Contract and a Pick” strategy. The details matter but I wouldn’t rule out anything at this point.