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

[soog]

It can't be LeBron to Dallas. It just can't be.

I'm still predicting (assuming this is anything at all) Lonzo Ball but holding out insanely pipe-dreamish hope for Garland.

Of those, I feel like I prefer Lonzo - big defensively minded guard on a reasonable contract. I’m commended about playing Kyrie and Garland side by side, not to mention the almost $80M they’d be earning.

Can you educate me on why I want Garland? I’ve never really watched him play, so I only know his stats

[Jym]

He's lurking...probably laughing his ass off at how gullible we are. That's ok. It's all for fun.

Lebron really doesn't make any sense to me but I'm hoping we can jump in and turn some combo of Gafford, PJ, Klay, and Martin into a better fit

[KillerLeft]

Can you educate me on why I want Garland? I’ve never really watched him play, so I only know his stats

He is an elite PG. Elite. Quick, fast, handles, shooting, creation, passing - you name it. Defense isn't great, so it's probably not Nico's dream. But, outside of Luka, SGA, Brunson and a healthy Halliburton, he's probably the best you could reasonably hope to acquire, and he's 25. He could play with Cooper Flagg for a long, long time, and while he's probably not a noticeably better player than Kyrie was last season, he IS a better POINT GUARD than Kyrie, imho. I would much rather have Garland than Fox, just for example. Cleveland didn't win all those games just because of Mitchell, and it's actually a well known thing that Cleveland has been considering moving one or the other for over a year now.

It would make them contenders, in my mind. Then again, LeBron might accomplish that, too. It's just that Garland is 25, and that's WORTH giving up some good stuff.

[SleepingHero]

Hmmmmm...THAT I don't love so much. 

I'm fine with LeBron being a Mav...just kinda scary to think about, you know, for WHAT.

If it's just Gafford and end of bench bloat...or even Naji Marshall in the mix...ok. Maybe the 4 team structure makes that possible somehow. But, I sure hope they're not sending that ONE potentially awesome pick back to LA.

The thing is, this is a pretty complicated deal if the Cavs are involved. They are a 2nd apron team and can't aggregate players without somehow cutting 19 mil of money (and not taking any more). 

Once we add in Lebron and the Mavs own limited options of piling on salary to get to a big number, it starts to make me wonder how it's possible to even get Lebron. 

But, Gafford+PJ+Martin for Garland is almost an exact match. 1.3 mil difference of additional salary for the Mavs. 

Total team salary would be be at $205,760,446.00 and they'd have roughly 2mil of space before the 2nd apron (without Exum being included) and 13 roster spots. If we included Exum, then the roster salary would be at 209,047,855 and the Mavs would be OVER the 2nd apron by 1.2 mil. Which means the Mavs would have to include another smaller salary (say Powell) and get back an even smaller salary (say Jaylen Wells from Memphis??). Then the math works, but just barely. Mavs would be 800k below the 2nd apron in this scenario. 

Full trade would be Gafford+PJ+Martin+Powell for Garland+Wells.

[KillerLeft]

Honestly, even if they've just found a way to turn Gafford into Lonzo (possibly even lowering payroll) I'd be ok with it. Truly. More creation and/or perimeter defense would really bring this roster to life, and with Russell here, it wouldn't be so crucial that Ball played 70 games.

[Jym]

Honestly, even if they've just found a way to turn Gafford into Lonzo (possibly even lowering payroll) I'd be ok with it. Truly. More creation and/or perimeter defense would really bring this roster to life.

would we be getting a pick back or something? 
I have so little confidence in Lonzo and his knees.

[KillerLeft]

would we be getting a pick back or something? 
I have so little confidence in Lonzo and his knees.

No idea, because people are acting like it's a big, multi-team trade. I'm just connecting dots between Dallas and Cleveland (probably badly). 

But, the current salary/roster structure isn't sustainable, given what Gump was saying about next season, and we all know they have too many bigs and not enough at guard. It's obvious.

[KillerLeft]

For the record, I'm going to be thrilled to watch the circus of LeBron, Kyrie, AD and Cooper Flagg, if that's what this ends up being. I think that would be truly exciting.

Only...
I'm assuming they're not dumb enough to give away Flagg in a deal like that (no chance)
I'm hoping they won't give that LAL pick away for a 40 year old (kind of a big chance, unfortunately)
and I really, really hope Lively isn't involved.

I have other hopes, but those would be the main three.

[KillerLeft]

Honestly, even if they've just found a way to turn Gafford into Lonzo (possibly even lowering payroll) I'd be ok with it. Truly. More creation and/or perimeter defense would really bring this roster to life, and with Russell here, it wouldn't be so crucial that Ball played 70 games.

To clarify this thought...turning Martin or some other bloat into Lonzo Ball would be even better, but I'm just building on the text premise that Gafford is going to Memphis. 

Feels like this is just a big BS fest about LeBron James though. Probably nothing to see here.

[F Gump]

Holy geez, the Cavs are actually trying to move the heavens just to trade for LeBron James. I'm shocked, but also not shocked.

Not cap-possible. CLE is well over the 2nd apron and cannot aggregate salaries. So the only way they could have LBJ incoming would be to trade away a bigger salary than LBJ's 52M in that trade. They have no such salary.

[Knutsen]

Not cap-possible. CLE is well over the 2nd apron and cannot aggregate salaries. So the only way they could have LBJ incoming would be to trade away a bigger salary than LBJ's 52M in that trade. They have no such salary.

What does that mean for our trade possibilities with them? They can’t receive a more expensive player than they send out in general, so our guy would have to have a similar or higher salary, right?

[KillerLeft]

Not cap-possible. CLE is well over the 2nd apron and cannot aggregate salaries. So the only way they could have LBJ incoming would be to trade away a bigger salary than LBJ's 52M in that trade. They have no such salary.

Ok, let's pretend I'm kind of following, but still need more help (lol). 

You're saying there's no other way to get themselves under the 2nd apron first?

EDIT: they can't send ONE player each to multiple teams, right? That still counts as aggregation?

[SleepingHero]

For the record, I'm going to be thrilled to watch the circus of LeBron, Kyrie, AD and Cooper Flagg, if that's what this ends up being. I think that would be truly exciting.

Only...
I'm assuming they're not dumb enough to give away Flagg in a deal like that (no chance)
I'm hoping they won't give that LAL pick away for a 40 year old (kind of a big chance, unfortunately)
and I really, really hope Lively isn't involved.

I have other hopes, but those would be the main three.

FWIW, the twitter "insiders" have already repeatedly said Flagg isn't involved in any way. 

In any deal for LeBron, salaries matter the most. Lively's 5.5 mil is paltry compared to his production. And the fact he can supposedly hit 3s means his fit with AD just works. 

The only package that makes sense is Gafford+PJ+Naji+Martin+Hardy. That works on paper for Bronny+Lebron. They'd be left with 13 players on the roster and a smidge over the 2nd apron- about 300k over. Which means Powell getting traded for air and replaced by 2 vet min guys (since their cap hit should be 2.2 mil) could feasibly work.

Roster would be:
Lebron/DLo/Exum/B-Will
Irving/Christie/Bronny
Flagg/Klay 
AD/OMax/vet min
Lively/vet min (Kai?)/

[SleepingHero]

What does that mean for our trade possibilities with them? They can’t receive a more expensive player than they send out in general, so our guy would have to have a similar or higher salary, right?

They have to send out 1 player making more than whatever they are taking back.

E.g. Garland for Gafford+PJ+Martin works and is cap legal. But they cannot do Garland+Craig Porter Jr. for Gafford+PJ+Martin. That is illegal.

[SleepingHero]

What if...

What if we're overcomplicating this...? What if the Mavs are trading Gafford to the Grizzlies for a pick and essentially air.

Then Lebron gets bought out and signs here for whats left over...? If we traded Gafford for air, the Mavs would be under the 1st apron by 3.5 mil. We could then technically sign DLo AND Lebron to the MLE. DLo gets his current allotted 5.6 mil. And Lebron gets a 3.6 mil. Mavs are then hardcapped at the 1st apron. But would be under it. By just so.

This hinges on Lebron forcing his way out. But this way the Mavs basically "trade" Gafford for Lebron.

[F Gump]

Honestly, even if they've just found a way to turn Gafford into Lonzo (possibly even lowering payroll) I'd be ok with it. Truly. More creation and/or perimeter defense would really bring this roster to life, and with Russell here, it wouldn't be so crucial that Ball played 70 games.

"if they've just found a way to turn Gafford into Lonzo" -- Gag. Your hatred for Gaff has gone so over the top. What a terrible trade idea, throwing Gaff's value in the trash for a mostly-useless player. Not that this trade make any sense for CLE either, because it wouldn't.

[KillerLeft]

"if they've just found a way to turn Gafford into Lonzo" -- Gag. Your hatred for Gaff has gone so over the top. What a terrible trade idea, throwing Gaff's value in the trash for a mostly-useless player. Not that this trade make any sense for CLE either, because it wouldn't.

I'm sorry if my spitballing (in make believe land) offended you. I'm just trying to connect the dots from the first few posts. 

I don't hate Gafford AT ALL, but I also don't agree with you about the balance of the roster. AD is a center. He, himself, could have me pinned down with a gun to my head, screaming "say I'm a 4" and I wouldn't say it. We just disagree, but please don't take it as hatred for Gafford. I think just AD and Lively are both way, way better, and it's only my opinion.

[KillerLeft]

What if...

What if we're overcomplicating this...? What if the Mavs are trading Gafford to the Grizzlies for a pick and essentially air.

Then Lebron gets bought out and signs here for whats left over...? If we traded Gafford for air, the Mavs would be under the 1st apron by 3.5 mil. We could then technically sign DLo AND Lebron to the MLE. DLo gets his current allotted 5.6 mil. And Lebron gets a 3.6 mil. Mavs are then hardcapped at the 1st apron. But would be under it. By just so.

This hinges on Lebron forcing his way out. But this way the Mavs basically "trade" Gafford for Lebron.

If it was Gafford AND a pick...sign me up. If the pick was OUTGOING...I'd be less enthusiastic.

[KillerLeft]

What if...

What if we're overcomplicating this...? What if the Mavs are trading Gafford to the Grizzlies for a pick and essentially air.

Then Lebron gets bought out and signs here for whats left over...? If we traded Gafford for air, the Mavs would be under the 1st apron by 3.5 mil. We could then technically sign DLo AND Lebron to the MLE. DLo gets his current allotted 5.6 mil. And Lebron gets a 3.6 mil. Mavs are then hardcapped at the 1st apron. But would be under it. By just so.

This hinges on Lebron forcing his way out. But this way the Mavs basically "trade" Gafford for Lebron.

Here's what seems fishy to me...the first dude says Dallas, Cleveland and an unknown third team. That makes it seem like a Dallas/Cleveland deal with a third party facilitator. He also said something about "not AD huge" but "relatively big." That doesn't scream "LeBron James trade" to me.

Then, a text thread has a veiled mention of LeBron. 

Then, it's a 4 team deal with LeBron arriving in Dallas???

I'm hoping this is all about Garland, still. There are versions of a LeBron trade (probably the likeliest versions) that I wouldn't love.

[KillerLeft]

Now that I'm thinking about it...I do remember something about how Gafford has family in Memphis and wanted to get traded there instead of Dallas, I think. I might be remembering incorrectly, though. It was either Memphis or OKC, but I remember something about that. It wasn't like he didn't want to land in Dallas, but there was something I read about one of those teams being his hope. Something about where he grew up, I think?