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

[SleepingHero]

@BillyReinhardt
Phoenix wants a center.

Jordan Ott is the new coach.

Nets are a possible third team in any KD trade due to their ability to take on extra money.

Ott coached Nic Claxton in Brooklyn and fits the mold of similar rim running centers that he has worked with.

Something to keep an eye on.

[SleepingHero]

The Minnesota Timberwolves won’t trade Jaden McDaniels to get Kevin Durant, per @JonKrawczynski

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant's preferred trade destinations out of Phoenix, sources tell ESPN. Those across the NBA have been made aware in recent days that those are the three teams that Durant would commit to long-term.

Durant is on an expiring $54.7 million deal for 2025-26, and the Suns have made clear to six-to-eight seriously interested teams that they will make the best deal for the franchise – even outside of his preferred list of Miami, San Antonio and Houston.

[SleepingHero]

The Athletic (@TheAthletic)
The Rockets and Suns have been in contact about a Kevin Durant trade for over a year, with different frameworks discussed in that time.

Recently, Jabari Smith Jr.’s name has come up pertaining to the Suns’ interest, team and league sources tell @KellyIko.

[Mavs2021]

The Minnesota Timberwolves won’t trade Jaden McDaniels to get Kevin Durant, per @JonKrawczynski

That whole Minnesota idea is idiotic. Does anybody believe they´d be a better team with Durant instead of Randle/Gobert? Minnesota probably offers something like Gobert/Conley + salary filler, which tells you the reality of the Suns situation.

[FireNicoHarrison]

KD value is all time low because age and expires contract.

If Houston will trade Jabari for him they are mentally done. It's a joke.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Gafford will bring in more than Adams. I can’t see anything below $80m/4yr

[FireNicoHarrison]

We saved the league, look at those Finals. Nobody cares.

But another move like this and maybe Harrison can be fired , the situation is pretty embarassing honestly.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Trade street clothes if the market is so high, don't worry Nico we know why you traded Doncic.
It's time to make another contender.

[Chicagojk]

I really like Bane. Orlando needs Black to be good. Probably need a starting level center too. Good team though.

What type of firsts did they give up. All Orlando in every other year?

Maybe they are right, this will be a really crazy trade season with all sorts of unexpectant moves.

[Jym]

I am not advocating for the value received in the Luka trade - not sticking up for it. But, that package is NOT better than what the Mavs got. Those 4 firsts, from a good team in the EAST, are going to be worthless, especially now with the college money making the end of the first round even less likely to yield good players. Comparatively, I'd much rather have that ONE Lakers pick from down the road, because I think they're going to be bad by then, not good. I really hope the Mavs don't trade that pick, or at least get something good in return if they do. 

The other part of the conversation that Mavs fans don't acknowledge is the AD was worth a few 1sts, himself, so that's value that "cancelled out" some picks in the exchange, at least in the minds of those making the deal. I think Harrison should've gotten more value, and have said so, but I would MUCH rather have the LA to DAL package than the ORL to MEM package. I think this is an overreaction on your part.

I wonder what's going on with that PHX 2026 pick. There's already layers of swaps and bullcrap on it even before today. 
Could end up being the real prize if PHX falls apart and Memphis actually gets it 

"Orlando is sending to Memphis the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Phoenix's first-round pick in 2026, Magic 2028 unprotected first-rounder and Orlando's 2030 unprotected first, sources said. Pick swap is lightly protected in 2029."

this is what fanspo has even before this trade 

" WAS has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick, protected for selections 9-30, for PHX's 2026 1st round pick; ORL then has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick for the less favorable of the PHX pick and the WAS pick if conveyable; MEM then has the right to swap its 2026 1st round pick for the least / less favorable of the PHX pick, the WAS pick if conveyable and the ORL pick and CHA will receive the least favorable of these; if the WAS pick is not conveyable, then the commitment to WAS will be lifted and ORL will instead have the right to swap its pick for the PHX pick (via PHX to CHA)"

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Miami Heat are the favorites to land Russell Westbrook, per @BovadaOfficial

Miami Heat +260
Dallas Mavericks +325
Sacramento Kings +500
Golden State Warriors +750
Orlando Magic +750
Oklahoma City Thunder +900
Hapoel Tel Aviv +900
Toronto Raptors +1000

[SleepingHero]

Some random NBA insider is saying that he has heard the Grizzlies have called the Suns about Devin Booker.

And that the Suns did not reciprocate.

But it's a fun idea to think about. Does Morant+ ORL's 4FRPs on top of other draft compensation at least make the Suns think twice ?

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I can’t believe I’m typing these letters, but doesn’t Westbrook make sense? Someone please smack me out of this temporary insanity…

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Miami Heat are the favorites to land Russell Westbrook, per @BovadaOfficial

Miami Heat +260
Dallas Mavericks +325
Sacramento Kings +500
Golden State Warriors +750
Orlando Magic +750
Oklahoma City Thunder +900
Hapoel Tel Aviv +900
Toronto Raptors +1000

If we sign Westbrook, I am out. I don't care if it's for the league minimum. I cannot watch him play basketball.

[cow]

Some random NBA insider is saying that he has heard the Grizzlies have called the Suns about Devin Booker.

And that the Suns did not reciprocate.

But it's a fun idea to think about. Does Morant+ ORL's 4FRPs on top of other draft compensation at least make the Suns think twice ?

Morant/Beal might challenge Luka/Brunson or Luka/Kyrie for worst defensive tandem assembled.

I kind of wonder if JJJ will become available.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

KD value is all time low because age and expires contract.

If Houston will trade Jabari for him they are mentally done. It's a joke.

I can't imagine anyone giving up meaningful young assets like that without an agreement already in place.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Minnesota Timberwolves won’t trade Jaden McDaniels to get Kevin Durant, per @JonKrawczynski

Hell, I don't blame them. Jaden McDaniels will probably become one of the best 2-way players if he already isn't.  Once he has developed a more consistent 3pt shot, the sky's the limit. He's just 24.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I really like Bane.  Orlando needs Black to be good.  Probably need a starting level center too.  Good team though.

What type of firsts did they give up.  All Orlando in every other year?

Maybe they are right, this will be a really crazy trade season with all sorts of unexpectant moves.

So they still don't have a high distribution guard...

[SleepingHero]

If we sign Westbrook, I am out.  I don't care if it's for the league minimum.  I cannot watch him play basketball.

I hear you. Seriously I do. 

Westbrick is one of the most frustrating players in the league. But, he really does make sense. At least as a temporary stop gap until Kyrie returns. I stress the temporary aspect because I’m not a huge Westbrook fan either.

He is still a mega durable guard. He’s still a great passer. He still can rebound. He can’t score at all, but as a set up guy at the minimum? Mavs can do a whole lot worse…