Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Nuggets are toast if you ask me. They're capped out. They'll receive an unprotected 2031 1st from Cleveland and a 2032 2nd from the Kings. They didn't have a 1st until this trade. It's a shame one of the best players in the game will have to play with a flawed roster. They gave Christian Braun a 5/125-year deal when clearly it should have gone to Watson. I wonder if they tried to trade Braun and found no takers?

[DanSchwartzgan]

Clippers can give Mathurin some 20 mil and stay under the first apron

Or take on Gafford in a deal for Mathurin and be about $2.2mm under. Beal and Strus kind of cover the positional need.
BTW, 9/1 is the guarantee date for Cisse's first $1.09mm.

[omahen]

Kuminga running out of options now unless something unexpected appears. Looks like he can take a one year vet min prove it deal (probably a bunch of options for that available) or whatever 3 year deal he can get from Lakers (probably not more than 15 per). Minny would need him but they don't have (much) more than vet min available under the second apron. Atlanta has too many players already and are not far below the tax. Cleveland is probably out now, unless Harden takes a really big pay cut.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kuminga running out of options now unless something unexpected appears. Looks like he can take a one year vet min prove it deal (probably a bunch of options for that available) or whatever 3 year deal he can get from Lakers (probably not more than 15 per). Minny would need him but they don't have (much) more than vet min available under the second apron. Atlanta has too many players already and are not far below the tax. Cleveland is probably out now, unless Harden takes a really big pay cut.

I also think Cleveland is out. Watson can play SF and PF.

[KillerLeft]

This might be a super dumb question, but...are we 100% sure Cleveland is going to pay Harden moving forward?

[F Gump]

Or take on Gafford in a deal for Mathurin and be about $2.2mm under.  Beal and Strus kind of cover the positional need.
BTW, 9/1 is the guarantee date for Cisse's first $1.09mm.

I don't think there's any realistic chance the Mavs are hoping to trade Gaff. The likelihood that Lively's availability is going to be iffy makes Gaff's veteran presence a key piece. imo

Cisse's 9/1 date is interesting (as is the 10/1 full gtee date), but I don't think either will be a real consideration all that much to them. I think 9/1 will pass without notice in Mavs HQ. That's because I believe they classify him as easy to either give away at any time (and perhaps get a SRP in return) or waive and see him claimed. In either scenario it ends up the same as if they waive before 9/1, with no payroll or cap cost, so they can wait all the way to opening day if they wish before deciding on how to resolve the 16th man. And ultimately they may decide the best choice is to keep him, who knows.

[F Gump]

Kuminga running out of options now unless something unexpected appears. Looks like he can take a one year vet min prove it deal (probably a bunch of options for that available) or whatever 3 year deal he can get from Lakers (probably not more than 15 per). Minny would need him but they don't have (much) more than vet min available under the second apron. Atlanta has too many players already and are not far below the tax. Cleveland is probably out now, unless Harden takes a really big pay cut.

Kuminga looks to be headed to min salary deal, but if so it certainly opens the door to Minn and Cle who seem to have remaining roster spots, which have to pay min salary to be filled. 

The bigger question for him is fit -- not just salary, or even available role, but the bigger question of what role he would embrace. He's in the weird NBA place where he wants to be a featured player on a good team, but isn't quite that guy, and the role (with its pay level) that he could be good at aren't what he wants.

[F Gump]

This might be a super dumb question, but...are we 100% sure Cleveland is going to pay Harden moving forward?

Yes, I think its a lock. He's working WITH them, and imo their moves are being made with an eye on the right sized salary slot being left for him.

[Mavs2021]

The Nuggets are toast if you ask me. They're capped out. They'll receive an unprotected 2031 1st from Cleveland and a 2032 2nd from the Kings. They didn't have a 1st until this trade.  It's a shame one of the best players in the game will have to play with a flawed roster.

Don´t say that. Kyrie is a better Murray, Cooper is a better Gordon and once we get the 3rd Porter brother Luka it looks pretty tasty to me.