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

[Smitty]

Ayton can do a 1+1 in Indy for double the money that LA can offer. 

Do the Pacers even want to compete next year? No Hali, no Turner, and they made a trade to get their pick back next season...

[cow]

Do the Pacers even want to compete next year? No Hali, no Turner, and they made a trade to get their pick back next season...

I'm not sure if this is an argument for or against adding Ayton.  :p

[Winter]

I would think since Ayton and Doncic are Bill Duffy clients, that Duffy is going to put it in an LA perspective for Ayton.

[Tyler]

I think Indy is too good of a team and Carlisle is too good of a coach to go full tank just because Hali is out. If they can compete, I believe they will.

[Chicagojk]

Schroeder for 3 years for 45 mil to Sacramento. I wasn't really interested in him either but quite a difference in price between him and Dlo.

[Winter]

I think Indy is too good of a team and Carlisle is too good of a coach to go full tank just because Hali is out. If they can compete, I believe they will.

I do too. They won't phone it in. They will try to get a workable solution with a new center.

[SleepingHero]

@SamQuinnCBS
I’ve peddled a lot of Giannis rumors in my day, but Milwaukee might have inadvertently triggered the funniest sequence of events possible:

Pacers sign Ayton. Lakers have no centers to sign. LeBron requests trade from LA.

The ultimate small-market trade request revenge

[cow]

I do too. They won't phone it in. They will try to get a workable solution with a new center.

All roads lead back to Dwight Powell.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Pat Connaughton and two of their own second-round picks (2031, 2032) to the Charlotte Hornets for Vasilije Micic, sources tell ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Free agent guard Dennis Schroder has agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, sources tell ESPN. Kings officials and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports finalized the deal Tuesday.

[omahen]

I know there's been some 'connecting dots' stuff with Ayton to Indy, but I also have a hard time seeing it. Ultimately, I think he does a 1+1 deal to play with Luka & LeBron. Lot of teams with capspace next year. Let Luka get you paid...

Portland didn't just cut Ayton, they negotiated a buyout. This means Ayton was just as interested as Portland was to end this relationship. There is the obvious agent connection and Lakers had to know this is happening in advance and prepare for it. Lakers didn't really try to fight for centers like Capella (signed to be 3rd center on Houston) or Lopez (back-up for Clippers). I guess they would be able to convince at least one of them with a better offer. It was reported that both Duffy and Ayton see Lakers as the perfect opportunity to rehab his reputation.

I will be really surprised if Lakers don't do this.

[Winter]

The Athletic came out with short article by Jason Quick on Ayton leaving Portland

"As Quick details, the former No. 1 overall pick was reportedly late to team flights and practices, skipped injury rehab appointments, and threw “tantrums” in the locker room when he was benched for poor effort. He also had little self-awareness about his role, says Quick, having envisioned himself as the team’s “cornerstone” when he joined the Blazers ahead of the 2023/24 season."

I'm sure Lakers fans are going to love this....

[FireNicoHarrison]

No thanks.

Absolutely.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4563...ial-issues


Malik Beasley has financial issues.
being sued for breach of contract.

[SleepingHero]

I know there's been some 'connecting dots' stuff with Ayton to Indy, but I also have a hard time seeing it. Ultimately, I think he does a 1+1 deal to play with Luka & LeBron. Lot of teams with capspace next year. Let Luka get you paid...

Or you go to the East where there is no competition, and you play well enough on a competitive team to maybe get All-Star consideration given how talent bereft the Eastern conference is.

[Tyler]

Take less money to play with Luka (and get scapegoated by LA) to hopefully get paid more later by another team because Pelinka has already said he's saving money for a big name. Or take more money to play on a finals team and also hopefully get paid more later, maybe even by the Pacers who actually want you.

Hmm. What to do...

[Smitty]

Take less money to play with Luka (and get scapegoated by LA) to hopefully get paid more later by another team because Pelinka has already said he's saving money for a big name. Or take more money to play on a finals team and also hopefully get paid more later, maybe even by the Pacers who actually want you.

Hmm. What to do...

The assumption you're making, that I can't get to, is that the Pacers want Ayton.

[Tyler]

The assumption you're making, that I can't get to, is that the Pacers want Ayton.

They signed him to a max contract offer as a RFA just 3 years ago. Carlisle was also the coach at the time. And now the Pacers have a major need at center and the most money to offer. What more evidence do you need that they might have mutual interest?

[Winter]

The assumption you're making, that I can't get to, is that the Pacers want Ayton.

They may not... especially after the Athletic article. I think they are better off trying to find something in a trade.

[Smitty]

@KeithSmithNBA
Best available NBA free agents by position:

PG
J. Giddey ®
C. Paul
M. Brogdon
R. Westbrook
B. Simmons

SG
Q. Grimes ®
C. Thomas ®
D. Robinson
T. Hardaway Jr.
D. Exum

SF
A. Coffey
C. Martin
J. Walker
T. Craig
L. Stevens

PF
J. Kuminga ®
C. Boucher
T. Lyles
L. Nance Jr.
P. Achiuwa

C
A. Horford
D. Ayton
M. Wagner
J. Hayes
S. Mamukelashvili