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

[Kidnova]

But are there any teams even remotely close to emulating such a model? Boston arguably had 5 all-star caliber players in their starting lineup. That's almost impossible to just create.

Right now looking out at the NBA landscape, there are a lot of teams with a lot of size. Mavs need to match that size. And they are one of the few teams uniquely made to dominate with size. 

I think only Houston, Spurs, and Denver can match their size right now.

The Thunder have a lot of size as well.  I guess Dort isn't exactly tall for his position, but he's a big dude.

[SleepingHero]

I'd argue that changing Gafford out for a guard who can handle the ball and defend POA would make their roster balance quite similar to that Boston team's.

[KillerLeft]

Tell me AD is going to play at least 50% of his minutes at center (I'd prefer more) and this roster starts to make lots more sense to me, personally. And, he's one of the best centers in the league - very capable of functioning in a modern way on both ends of the court.

That puts you in a situation where PJW and Flagg, backed up by Marshall along with some overflow from Thompson when he's not at the 2 (which would free up more time for Christie) starts to look/feel great on paper.

But paying Daniel Gafford $18 million not to play doesn't jive, so unless he or Lively gets moved (and I don't think they're moving Lively), it seems like the plan is to be bigger, slower and less skilled than the opponent at basically every position. There are pros, but I worry about the cons.

[SleepingHero]

The Thunder have a lot of size as well.  I guess Dort isn't exactly tall for his position, but he's a big dude.

 Chet got absolutely bodied by everyone in the playoffs. Even last year too.

Only size they have is Hartenstien and their new rookie.

[cow]

oooh spicy

I really dislike Windhorst.  This feels like a nothing statement. LeBron opting in rather than doing another 1+1 signals something. So is the end after this season or (much) sooner, Brian?

 Chet got absolutely bodied by everyone in the playoffs. Even last year too.

Only size they have is Hartenstien and their new rookie.

Myles didn't do a lot against the matchup and Chet had a lot of success driving against him after receiving the all on the perimeter. OKC probably could have exploited that more but it's hard to criticize the victor.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Lebron will be a Mav in the next 3-5 days in a 3+ team deal. Book it.

[SleepingHero]

Center market is drying up fast.

Best remaining FA centers:
Deandre Ayton
Mortiz Wagner
Al Horford (Warriors?)
Deandre Jordan
Jaxon Hayes
Thomas Bryant
Mason Plumlee

[SleepingHero]

Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass)
Centers who have signed so far in NBA Free Agency

— Brook Lopez
— Clint Capela
— Luke Kornet
— Kevin Looney

The Lakers appear to be all in on landing Deandre Ayton after he clears waivers

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

it seems like the plan is to be bigger, slower and less skilled than the opponent at basically every position. 

That's the mind boggling part to me.

AD is better as a 5 than a 4
PJ is better as a 4 than a 3
CF is a combo 3/4 like Aaron Gordon.  Just because he is a talented passer doesn't make him a guard.  

They are planning to play the entire team out of position. Nico thinks he is playing some 4d chess zigging when the rest of the league is zagging.

[Kidnova]

Center market is drying up fast.

Best remaining FA centers:
Deandre Ayton
Mortiz Wagner
Al Horford (Warriors?)
Deandre Jordan
Jaxon Hayes
Thomas Bryant
Mason Plumlee

TIL Deandre Jordan was still in the league.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I really dislike Windhorst.  This feels like a nothing statement.  LeBron opting in rather than doing another 1+1 signals something.  So is the end after this season or (much) sooner, Brian?

Windhorst is one of my favorites.  I find him to be funny and good natured.

I dunno when he said that quote.  If it's some new information he just learned in the last hour after seeing what the Lakers have done in FA. 

Or if he's just talking. He did a podcast last night where he hadn't said anything that definitive about Lebron leaving.

[KillerLeft]

That's the mind boggling part to me.

AD is better as a 5 than a 4
PJ is better as a 4 than a 3
CF is a combo 3/4 like Aaron Gordon.  Just because he is a talented passer doesn't make him a guard.  

They are planning to play the entire team out of position.

Looks that way, but we don't know for sure yet. 

And, FGump made a point earlier I agree with. In the absence of THE RIGHT deal (we don't know what's available to them and can only speculate), I think it's a good move to keep your good players and wait for the next transactional cycle, when you'll presumably know even better what you need.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

That's the mind boggling part to me.

AD is better as a 5 than a 4
PJ is better as a 4 than a 3
CF is a combo 3/4 like Aaron Gordon.  Just because he is a talented passer doesn't make him a guard.  

They are planning to play the entire team out of position.

Which is why Gafford will be a part of the Lebron trade.  Book it.

[Winter]

Windhorst was writing for the Miami Herald (and was the Heat beat writer I think) when the Mavs were playing Miami in 2011 championship. After the Mavs came back and won game 2, Windhorst announced it wasn't a big deal. Miami was still going to win the series easily.

I dislike the guy immensely.

[cow]

TIL Deandre Jordan was still in the league.

Mostly rode the bench in Denver.  Having great relationships with everyone in the league has its' benefits.  I bet he'll find a place somewhere again.

[KillerLeft]

Which is why Gafford will be a part of the Lebron trade.  Book it.

Hey, if it's just Gafford and some other bloat (somehow), bring it on! 

I just can't think of a way to do it that doesn't end in buyer's remorse in a year, but maybe it being a 3-4 team deal makes that possible.

[SleepingHero]

Looks that way, but we don't know for sure yet. 

And, FGump made a point earlier I agree with. In the absence of THE RIGHT deal (we don't know what's available to them and can only speculate), I think it's a good move to keep your good players and wait for the next transactional cycle, when you'll presumably know even better what you need.

I'm trying to learn the lesson at the start of the Luka era. There is NO reason to rush. 

Mavs paid a FRP to get Luka. Well worth. 6 months later they paid 2 FRPs (with the most inane protections that handicapped them for years), for a guy that did not really fit with Luka (and didn't want to fit with Luka). 

I want to be patient with Flagg. No rush. Not trying to ship out real good guys for pennies on the dollar to fix a perceived weakness or positional issue.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent center Luka Garza has agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million fully guaranteed deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. The Celtics negotiated the new deal with Garza's representatives Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of @PrioritySports tonight.

[SleepingHero]

Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer)
Atlanta and Minnesota are in active conversations on a sign-and-trade for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, sources say.

[KillerLeft]

I'm trying to learn the lesson at the start of the Luka era. There is NO reason to rush. 

Mavs paid a FRP to get Luka. Well worth. 6 months later they paid 2 FRPs (with the most inane protections that handicapped them for years), for a guy that did not really fit with Luka (and didn't want to fit with Luka). 

I want to be patient with Flagg. No rush. Not trying to ship out real good guys for pennies on the dollar to fix a perceived weakness or positional issue.

Totally agree (especially about back then). 

But on the other hand, the team is really close to being excellent right now. I'd be tempted to fight for more, but they seem content to limit their thinking to locking everyone up in a sustainable way and then work around the margins a little. It's definitely a safe approach to the summer, but I don't know if I expect much this season in the way of competing.