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

[KillerLeft]

Wow, I picked a crazy morning not to check the news.

They STRETCH WAIVED Dame????

[Smitty]

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?

The circumstances for the Pacers and Ayton are both very different 3 years later.

[Winter]

Wow, I picked a crazy morning not to check the news.

They STRETCH WAIVED Dame????

And incredibly happy about it.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/07/agen...llard.html

[Knutsen]

And incredibly happy about it.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/07/agen...llard.html

So who is really in the running?

The Lakers, the Warriors, the Nuggets, the Timberwolves, the Suns, the Rockets and us…?

[SleepingHero]

So who is really in the running?

The Lakers, the Warriors, the Nuggets, the Timberwolves, the Suns, the Rockets and us…?

Portland is for sure very high up there too. Dame homecoming and he gets to be with his family for a year where he's not playing anyways. 


I have to imagine Dame would like Dallas, but really sure where he fits alongside Kyrie.

[cow]

Portland is for sure very high up there too. Dame homecoming and he gets to be with his family for a year where he's not playing anyways. 


I have to imagine Dame would like Dallas, but really sure where he fits alongside Kyrie.

Sucks that we no longer have a world class medical staff.

[DallasMaverick]

Portland is for sure very high up there too. Dame homecoming and he gets to be with his family for a year where he's not playing anyways. 


I have to imagine Dame would like Dallas, but really sure where he fits alongside Kyrie.

…and he might be done.

Many (most?) achilles tears are career-ending.  And he’s 34.

[cow]

…and he might be done.

Many (most?) achilles tears are career-ending.  And he’s 34.

I'm sure he'll come back.  Most players do, but in a diminished capacity.  The only two to buck that trend were Nique and Durant.   And like we discussed regarding Durant, his age and immense skill probably helped disguise any perceived decline.

[Kidnova]

…and he might be done.

Many (most?) achilles tears are career-ending.  And he’s 34.

That hasn't been true for a long time.  Last I saw almost 90% of players that go down with an achilles tear make it back.  Some are diminished, others not so much.  Your point is valid on his age though, as time is not on his side.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Damn, I missed all the craziness today. Lillard stretch and wave is crazy.

Nuggets and Bucks both desperate to retain their superstars.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

@TheDunkCentral
Rob Pelinka’s first call when free agency opened was to Jake LaRavia, per @DanWoikeSports


“According to league sources, LaRavia was the Lakers’ first call when free agency officially opened at 3 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday. In his conversation with Rob Pelinka and Lakers coach JJ Redick, LaRavia and his team were impressed with the ways Pelinka sold the strengths of the Lakers’ brand and Redick’s detailed vision for how he’d like to use the young wing.”

This reminds me of "our first call was to Delon Wright."

[Knutsen]

I'm sure he'll come back.  Most players do, but in a diminished capacity.  The only two to buck that trend were Nique and Durant.   And like we discussed regarding Durant, his age and immense skill probably helped disguise any perceived decline.

I think Kobe was the first one to come back really strong and afterwards it was kind of a blueprint to be able to almost get to the same level. Klay is another example, combined with his ACL tear the worst injury you can have.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

If I'm Ayton, Id rather be playing with the Pacers than the Lakers.

I'd rather see his bum ass on the Lakers tbh.

[mvossman]

That hasn't been true for a long time.  Last I saw almost 90% of players that go down with an ACL tear make it back.  Some are diminished, others not so much.  Your point is valid on his age though, as time is not on his side.

I think Achilles tear is worse than ACL.

[KillerLeft]

This reminds me of "our first call was to Delon Wright."

This is a good call. LaRavia might be better than Wright (I don't know his game very well), but the Lakers' goals seem eerily similar to what Dallas was trying to do as they wandered in the wilderness between 2011 and the Luka draft. Always planning for some "big splash" summer in the future based on cap room, trying to find the next cornerstone, totally aimless. Totally beholden to "future cap space."

And that's kind of a crazy tactic for a team with Luka AND LeBron on their roster right now, imho.

[Jmaciscool]

This reminds me of "our first call was to Delon Wright."

The offseason where the Wright choice was the wrong choice.

[omahen]

Mamukelashvili signed a 2-year vet min deal with Toronto. Huge loss for SA

[KillerLeft]

I'd rather see his bum ass on the Lakers tbh.

I think he sings in IND, and then the Ainges (father and son) gouge Pelinka on a Kessler trade.

[mvossman]

This is a good call. LaRavia might be better than Wright (I don't know his game very well), but the Lakers' goals seem eerily similar to what Dallas was trying to do as they wandered in the wilderness between 2011 and the Luka draft. Always planning for some "big splash" summer in the future based on cap room, trying to find the next cornerstone, totally aimless. Totally beholden to "future cap space."

And that's kind of a crazy tactic for a team with Luka AND LeBron on their roster right now, imho.

Agree with all of this, but at least LA could actually land a big free agent.  That whole thing with Cuban was such a joke.  I have come around to the theory that it was really just a disguise for Cuban being cheap after winning the championship.

[SleepingHero]

The offseason where the Wright choice was the wrong choice.