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

[KillerLeft]

I see what you are saying.  I will be very curious to see if they get a player better than Dorian for the MLE.  Maybe they are looking for younger to fit Luka timeline.

They're getting Ayton. They're letting DFS go so they can spend the FULL MLE on Ayton. 

It's horrible for them, and for Luka. 

At least we don't have to worry about the Lakers being contenders anytime soon.

[mvossman]

Do you think Allen is not a good enough defender? He's a dirty as hell player, but his defense isn't horrible.

I would say he is below average.  They need a POA defender.

[omahen]

That was strange. Nets declined Sharpe QO yesterday only to sign him to a 2-year 12 mil deal today

[SleepingHero]

Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2)
The #Mavs are expected to come to an agreement with former All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell on a two-year contract, a person familiar with the process confirmed.

Free agency opens at 5 p.m. CT.

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Houston is believed to be readying a four-year offer to Dorian Finney-Smith, sources say.

The Lakers know it will be difficult to retain DFS and maintain desired long-term financial flexibility but entered Monday hoping it was still possible.

[SleepingHero]

That was strange. Nets declined Sharpe QO yesterday only to sign him to a 2-year 12 mil deal today

Pretty odd given his QO was right at the same price as their current 2yr 12 mil deal today.

[mvossman]

So, less than .500 with this lineup? 35 wins?

Considering how bad the injury bug was last year, I’m having a hard time imagining less than 50 wins this season.

I can easily imagine it (I would go with under on 50 wins).  No Luka.  Kyrie already out for a big chunk of season and probably not fully back/healthy until the following season.  When AD misses games this team will be wildly short on offensive creation.  Flagg will help some, but its a wildcard how much.  I'm also not sold that playing 4 frontcourt guys together is going to lead to elite defense.  We shall see.

[KillerLeft]

I'm also not sold that playing 4 frontcourt guys together is going to lead to elite defense.

Samesies. 

I'd argue Gump's lineup is basically FIVE front court guys, depending on how you view Thompson in certain matchups.

I'm not that bothered, though, because I think there's an almost 0% chance Russell is signing for the small MLE on minute 1 of free agency without knowing he's going to start in place of Kyrie to kick the season off. My read is that they are literally offering him that, specific job. Say what you want about the guy, but he could probably get more if he was a little patient and waited for some dominos to fall. Possibly even the full real MLE from someone.

My guess for Kidd's opening night lineup (barring injury) is:

Russell
Thompson
Flagg
AD
Lively or Gafford

My feeling for who SHOULD be the opening night lineup (barring injury) is:

Russell
Thompson
Flagg
PJW
AD

THAT ^^^^^, with Christie, Exum, Marshall and Lively as the main bench guys, along with Martin, Williams and Hardy pushing them through competition, is a pretty salty rotation. Move Gafford for an upgrade for ANY one or two of them, and you could have a contender on your hands.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Going to be weird cheering for the Rockets.

They are a very likable team.  Love Tari and Amen especially.

[Smitty]

My feeling for who SHOULD be the opening night lineup (barring injury) is:

Russell
Thompson
Flagg
PJW
AD

THAT ^^^^^, with Christie, Exum, Marshall and Lively as the main bench guys, along with Martin, Williams and Hardy pushing them through competition, is a pretty salty rotation. Move Gafford for an upgrade for ANY one or two of them, and you could have a contender on your hands.

+1

[SleepingHero]

John Gambadoro (@Gambo987)
The Phoenix Suns will not be retaining Cody Martin. His contract was non-guaranteed until today. He will be a free agent.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

They're getting Ayton. They're letting DFS go so they can spend the FULL MLE on Ayton. 

It's horrible for them, and for Luka. 

At least we don't have to worry about the Lakers being contenders anytime soon.

With Bynam in their past, they seem to like lazy, under-producing bigs.

[Winter]

Regarding the lineup, I'm not sure you spend the money for Dlo if you're going to sit him on the bench for the entire year (and after Kyrie returns how many minutes will he get?).

When Kyrie comes back, he's going to start. We're not sitting him on the bench while Flagg and Klay are the guards. And I can't see Klay and Irving competing for minutes. So while it's interesting to toy with the idea, I think the Mavs have made plans to have Dlo run point when the season opens. I still think Klay starts and PJ is the one on the bench.

[KillerLeft]

My hope is that the reason O-Max is being mentioned as the guy they'd like to move for air in order to sign Exum (a move I'd like) is that he, rather than Powell and/or especially Hardy, who has significant money on the books still, can be moved without including a 2nd round pick or two. I'm bracing myself for the "sky is falling" folks to have a conniption fit if draft capital is included, but on the other hand, if Harrison can pull it off without giving up a pick (doubtful) I'll officially think he has had a pretty good off season.

There's reason to hope, too, imo, because O-Max had many suitors on his draft night and is still on the rookie contract. The Mavs have AD, PJW, Flagg and Naji Marshall, but a team looking for that uber-long forward type of guy that can be hard to find might be pretty interested in a one-year audition for O-Max.

I STILL can't believe they want to pay Gafford low-end starting center money to be the team's THIRD BEST center, but other than that I will have very little to complain about depending on how that Exum path plays out. People are down on Martin, and while I wouldn't mind seeing him go in order to move forward, I actually think HE is a deep bench piece here that could be a factor in games, unlike Powell or Kai Jones, since they're apparently keeping Gafford.

[Winter]

My hope is that the reason O-Max is being mentioned as the guy they'd like to move for air in order to sign Exum (a move I'd like) is that he, rather than Powell and/or especially Hardy, who has significant money on the books still, can be moved without including a 2nd round pick or two. I'm bracing myself for the "sky is falling" folks to have a conniption fit if draft capital is included, but on the other hand, if Harrison can pull it off without giving up a pick (doubtful) I'll officially think he has had a pretty good off season.

There's reason to hope, too, imo, because O-Max had many suitors on his draft night and is still on the rookie contract. The Mavs have AD, PJW, Flagg and Naji Marshall, but a team looking for that uber-long forward type of guy that can be hard to find might be pretty interested in a one-year audition for O-Max.

I STILL can't believe they want to pay Gafford low-end starting center money to be the team's THIRD BEST center, but other than that I will have very little to complain about depending on how that Exum path plays out. People are down on Martin, and while I wouldn't mind seeing him go in order to move forward, I actually think HE is a deep bench piece here that could be a factor in games, unlike Powell or Kai Jones, since they're apparently keeping Gafford.

You almost have to do something with Omax. He'll never see the court with this group. And bundling him with Hardy, Martin, or Powell would pretty much be ideal to squeeze in another guard.

[SleepingHero]

Regarding the lineup, I'm not sure you spend the money for Dlo if you're going to sit him on the bench for the entire year (and after Kyrie returns how many minutes will he get?). 

When Kyrie comes back, he's going to start. We're not sitting him on the bench while Flagg and Klay are the guards. And I can't see Klay and Irving competing for minutes. So while it's interesting to toy with the idea, I think the Mavs have made plans to have Dlo run point when the season opens. I still think Klay starts and PJ is the one on the bench.

And I don't think that's a bad idea at all.

PJ as a super 6th man isn't the end of the world to me. Especially since we can expect AD to miss at least some time throughout the season. PJ will still probably start around 20-30 games.

[SleepingHero]

Boston may lose Luke Kornet. I wonder if they have any interest in Powell as a backup big.

[KillerLeft]

You almost have to do something with Omax. He'll never see the court with this group. And bundling him with Hardy, Martin, or Powell would pretty much be ideal to squeeze in another guard.

I can see someone being interested in O-Max bundled with Powell's expiring contract. I'm not sure you're getting a GOOD player back for that, but maybe some air and breathing room. Despite this board's viewpoint, my guess is that O-Max still has suitors, and if we don't think Powell's rep around the league is worth something by now, we haven't been paying attention.

[SleepingHero]

Kelly Iko (@KellyIko)
The Rockets are working quickly to secure meetings with Dorian Finney-Smith, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard at the outset of free agency, team sources tell @TheAthletic.

[DallasMaverick]

They are a very likable team.  Love Tari and Amen especially.

Don’t forget KD!