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

[Smitty]

Interesting. I dunno if I like or not. It's a lot to give.

One revision needed imo. If PJW goes to Hawks, they have to take Powell also, saving Mavs a pick. Still a major bargain for them, and maybe also revise so a diff player in the mix goes there instead.

And ... w LBJ to DAL, could we also pencil in CP3 for the MLE? Much better player and more help imo.

CP3 was on my mind for sure. I was just adding all the rumors together with DLO, Exum, and Kai Jones is all. Good call on DP going to ATL, especially with Capela leaving.

[Dahlsim]

Interesting things on the center market. BKN didn't pick up Sharpe qualifying offer and now Portland buying out Ayton. Lakers could get their center position patched up without giving assets, saving them for wing upgrades

Never doubt for a second.  The Lakers will managed to stack a quality roster around Luka, no matter cap space situation or anything else.  
NBA needs Luka and last year(s) of Lebron in the mix for contention for max ratings. 

The NBA stars will align to stack the team that was gifted LA Luka.

[F Gump]

CP3 was on my mind for sure. I was just adding all the rumors together with DLO, Exum, and Kai Jones is all.

Big agreement on the qualifier regarding PJW - if he will do an extension, no way do I want him going anywhere. (However, if he's headed to be a FA next summer, I am very open to moving him, provided Mavs can land good value.)

And...? We have had no whispers re PJW deal, either way. Cannot happen until end of Aug. Bad idea for either side to speak of any plans.

However, I believe both sides do already know what will happen. So I suspect one really good indicator is all the talk we have been hearing of his ongoing fit (and no trade speculation). IOW PJW is very likely staying.

[Smitty]

I believe both sides do already know what will happen. So I suspect one really good indicator is all the talk we have been hearing of his ongoing fit (and no trade speculation). IOW PJW is very likely staying.

I’d love nothing more.

[SleepingHero]

I would do it.  I don't think LA would be willing to give up the first.

I think they would because not only do they get their starting center, they get also 50+mil of relief for losing Lebron and a out-of-the-box ready Luka-Lineup for them to use.

Martin, Naji, and Klay are all 3 and D wings that Luka requires, each with their own skills. Gafford is THE starting center the Lakers are pining over and would most likely pay the 2031 FRP anyways to get. 

Hardy+OMax+Powell is probably a bit too much to just throw in there. Almost 13 mil of salary for not very good guys. Its up to LAL to find a taker for that (which I'm sure they'd do). 

4 starter level rotation players is way more than enough for 1 year of Lebron. That's why they'd have to add their last FRP for it and most likely be happy to.

For the Mavs, Lebron is by far and away one of the best offensive creators of all time. Even at his age. I don't think he'd take a huge scoring load, but he'll be a great facilitator. I wonder if that's enough for CP3 to decide to give it 1 last shot with this team too and join with his buddy. Also frees up the space to sign Exum and Kai Jones. Maybe even DLo but that's wishful thinking.

Gives the Mavs 2 years with this roster:
Lebron/CP3/B-Will
Kyrie/Christie/Exum
Flagg/
AD/PJ/
Lively/Kai Jones

That starting lineup alone is worth it to be honest. And PJ is good to take minutes from anyone who can't play or needs rest.

[KillerLeft]

Ayton is being bought out by Portland. I will be surprised if he doesn't sign with Lakers now. Same agent as Luka

I will shed some tears for Luka tomorrow, if/when it happens. I feel so bad for him.

[SleepingHero]

Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass)
Rivals executives are wondering if LeBron James will request a trade from the Lakers soon, per @sam_amick

[SleepingHero]

I will shed some tears for Luka tomorrow, if/when it happens. I feel so bad for him.

It's sad man.

I hate the Lakers with a passion, but want Luka to succeed individually. Those two things are naturally at odds. I can see the appeal for the Lakers for Ayton. I mean are there any better centers available? Let alone ones for the MLE with the talent level of Ayton? Plus the Luka Buff is a real thing. Maybe Ayton can make something of himself.

But then I remember how Ayton will 100% take plays off and settle for mid range jumpers instead of rolling to the rim. It's a shame whats happened to his career because he had all the makings of becoming an All-NBA talent.


EDIT: Also there are so many teams in need of a center. Boston, Bucks, Warriors, heck even Charlotte could have a use for Ayton. I don't think he's a 100% lock for the Lakers at all.

[SleepingHero]

@BrettSiegelNBA
Common misconception here. Any team is going to be able to pursue Ayton.

As @BobbyMarks42 stated, waiver restrictions for second apron teams are only in effect during the regular season.

[SleepingHero]

Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne)
Ayton has to clear waivers in 48 hours. Portland had a glut of centers after the draft and it’s very hard to trade a player making as much as he does. Expect teams that need a center to be very active with him.

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Deandre Ayton can officially clear waivers Wednesday at 5 PM, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

Ayton's formal release by Portland after agreeing to a buyout will be registered with the league office Monday.

NBA free agency, of course, officially begins Monday at 6 PM ET.

[Mavs2021]

@ShamsCharania
Breaking: Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

And there is the Lakers C. Magically it all comes together again for the Lakers. LOL.

[KillerLeft]

It's sad man.

I hate the Lakers with a passion, but want Luka to succeed individually. Those two things are naturally at odds. I can see the appeal for the Lakers for Ayton. I mean are there any better centers available? Let alone ones for the MLE with the talent level of Ayton? Plus the Luka Buff is a real thing. Maybe Ayton can make something of himself.

But then I remember how Ayton will 100% take plays off and settle for mid range jumpers instead of rolling to the rim. It's a shame whats happened to his career because he had all the makings of becoming an All-NBA talent.


EDIT: Also there are so many teams in need of a center. Boston, Bucks, Warriors, heck even Charlotte could have a use for Ayton. I don't think he's a 100% lock for the Lakers at all.

Just the fact that LA thinks they can get Ayton for the tpMLE speaks volumes. He's the DLo of centers, essentially. I actually think DLo is a better player.

[GATA]

Ty Jerome is the only guy we should be seriously going after

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
Deandre Ayton wants to play in a winning situation, per @ShamsCharania

[SleepingHero]

@LakeShowYo

Shams says LeBron could request a trade

“I’m told LeBron wants to compete for a championship next season and is uncertain about the Lakers roster moving forward”

[F Gump]

A note for those who like reading tea leaves from puzzling choices --

A year ago, LBJ signed a 1+1, which allowed him to only commit for 1 year, but have the financial security of another year in case bad stuff happens. If he wants stay in LA, he opts out, and then does another 1+1. Year at a time.

But instead he took the option. Playing with no security blanket. Why? If he likes LA, first opting out gives him more security while he plays again for a year. If he wants out of LA, opting out lets him go where he wants, right? So, either way, how in the world does opting IN make any sense at all???

But here's the thing. Oddly enough, opting IN makes a move to another team easier, because no one has cap room to sign him anyhow. And if he was a FA, while he can still obviously move via s-n-t, those have rules and limits and some teams would be ineligible to trade for him. Opting IN, oddly enough, gave him the most FLEXIBLE avenue to get to a different team of his own choosing. And he knows LA would almost certainly cater to him in getting where he might want to go, just as if he was a FA needing a s-n-t deal, if he wants to be moved.

If we factor in all that, does that change our thinking at all? And is DAL with both AD and Kyrie here, and the young prodigy Flagg, very near the top of his wish list? At first. LBJ to DAL feels very absurd, but looking at the whole picture, maybe not so absurd.

It feels to me like we may be very close to "be careful what you wish for" territory. Right?

[cow]

[KillerLeft]

A note for those who like reading tea leaves from puzzling choices --

A year ago, LBJ signed a 1+1, which allowed him to only commit for 1 year, but have the financial security of another year in case bad stuff happens. If he wants stay in LA, he opts out, and then does another 1+1. Year at a time.

But instead he took the option. Playing with no security blanket. Why? If he likes LA, first opting out gives him more security while he plays again for a year. If he wants out of LA, opting out lets him go where he wants, right? So, either way, how in the world does opting IN make any sense at all???

But here's the thing. Oddly enough, opting IN makes a move to another team easier, because no one has cap room to sign him anyhow. And if he was a FA, while he can still obviously move via s-n-t, those have rules and limits and some teams would be ineligible to trade for him. Opting IN, oddly enough, gave him the most FLEXIBLE avenue to get to a different team of his own choosing. And he knows LA would almost certainly cater to him in getting where he might want to go, just as if he was a FA needing a s-n-t deal, if he wants to be moved.

If we factor in all that, does that change our thinking at all? And is DAL with both AD and Kyrie here, and the young prodigy Flagg, very near the top of his wish list? At first. LBJ to DAL feels very absurd, but looking at the whole picture, maybe not so absurd.

It feels to me like we may be very close to "be careful what you wish for" territory. Right?

My prediction is that he plays one more year in LA before retiring. But, if we play this hypothetical out, I am 100% in on LeBron coming here, as long as the trade isn’t ridiculous. No outgoing picks and no outgoing rotation players other than Gafford along with Thompson or PJW. 

Frankly, I have a hard time envisioning a trade that I’d like, even with the Lakers trying to do LeBron a favor. However, the idea of that he’d play here for a year or two is awesome.

[DL2RimRocker]

So what would a trade for LeBron look like?

I think the most I would want would be:

Gaff/Klay/Martin/Hardy/Powell for LeBron

If PJ and Gaff have to be packaged in the deal in any scenario, I wouldn't want the Mavs to make the deal unless a pick and Knecht are included in the package w/LeBron.