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

[loki]

https://x.com/nationmffl/status/19350859...06516?s=46

@NationMffl
Shams Charania:

“If you put Anthony Davis on the open market right now he’s fetching you four or five first-round picks right now.”

That seems incredibly optimistic. No GM is going to want to get the short end of the stick in a deal with Dallas. That would destroy their reputation.

[Mavs2021]

https://x.com/nationmffl/status/19350859...06516?s=46

@NationMffl
Shams Charania:

“If you put Anthony Davis on the open market right now he’s fetching you four or five first-round picks right now.”

LOL. Shams been hacked again? Unfortunately this one won´t be true. If it´s anywhere close to the truth, then add the Hornets 2026 to the above trade package and I bite your hand off.

OKC has three top 20 picks in this draft. My lord. Does Presti have an ownership stake in OKC by now. How in the world has nobody offered this man a fortune to run their big city franchise?

Charlotte also has the Magic pick in the upcoming draft. Throw that in, too. You know the Hornets are so irrelevant, they might actually do this. Of course gotta fire Nico first.

[F Gump]

https://x.com/nationmffl/status/19350859...06516?s=46

@NationMffl
Shams Charania:

“If you put Anthony Davis on the open market right now he’s fetching you four or five first-round picks right now.”

Sign me up (assuming there are some unprotected good picks in the mix). That sounds like a wild ask, but if that is REALLY what AD can bring, it does make the Luka trade seem a bit less one-sided

[omahen]

LOL. Shams been hacked again? Unfortunately this one won´t be true. If it´s anywhere close to the truth, then add the Hornets 2026 to the above trade package and I bite your hand off.

OKC has three top 20 picks in this draft. My lord. Does Presti have an ownership stake in OKC by now. How in the world has nobody offered this man a fortune to run their big city franchise?

Charlotte also has the Magic pick in the upcoming draft. Throw that in, too. You know the Hornets are so irrelevant, they might actually do this. Of course gotta fire Nico first.

I agree this sounds very optimistic. Davis is 32 and injured. His salary is 54 million, which is not easy to match. Teams that are still in a rebuilding phase would likely not be interested because of his age. Teams that are contending will have a problem putting together 54 mil in salary. Most of good teams are also right at one of the aprons, further complicating any potential deal. Below my overview of all teams. I could see Detroit or SA as teams where the move could make sense and put them into contention discussion. Perhaps also Philly. Sacramento or Toronto could be dellusional enough, based on their history of bad moves.

Atlanta: would take something like at least KP and Kennard to match the salary (I think they have some exception and room under the apron). Are they really so much better than to pay 4 picks for Davis?
Boston: no way (would need to gut the team, which is already thin, for him)
BKN: rebuilding
Cha: rebuilding
Chicago: it would take something like Vucevic (or Collins), Williams and Huerter. They don't have 4 FRP to trade
Cleveland: over 2nd apron, can't match salaries and have Mobley (younger and likely better) on his position
Denver: I don't see how they could match salary without completely gutting the team, don't have four picks
Detroit: could be an option. They could put together the salaries without gutting the team and have the picks
GSW: can't match salaries
Houston: they could do it but I don't see them as willing
Indy: they have Siakam on his position. Can't put together salaries without completely gutting the team (I imagine Siakam and Hali are off the table)
Clippers: they don't have the picks
Lakers: same
Memphis: they have JJJ and I kind of doubt they would see Davis as an upgrade. They are not one Davis over JJJ away from contending
Miami: They could do it, but don't have the picks
Milwaukee: overlap with Giannis and they would need to completely gut already completely gutted team to do it
Minny: they don't have the picks (plus overlap with Randle)
New Orleans: rebuilding, overlap with Zion. Still, you never know with them...
Knicks: they don't have picks
OKC: they are not stupid
Orlando: they would become even bigger mess if he is added to Franz and Banchero (either of them should be worth at least as much as Davis)
Philly: for Embiid? Not sure if they have the picks
Phoenix: they don't have the picks
Portland: they have a nice foundation going. Would they really risk it for Davis? He imho doesn't make them a contender
Sacramento: they shouldn't but they could
San Antonio: are they ready for a total all-in move? Barnes, Johnson and Olynik gets them there salary wise and they have the picks. Davis would be a great fit with Wemby
Toronto: overlap with Barnes. They shouldn't but they made strange moves in the past
Utah and Washington: rebuilding

[loki]

Cha: rebuilding

I'd put them in the "they shouldn't but they could" category with Sacramento. Even some of their fans have expressed interest in AD. I don't think they expect to be a real contender, they'd just like a shot at the playoffs. Of course, 4-5 1st's isn't happening (from them or anyone imo).

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

LOL. Shams been hacked again? Unfortunately this one won´t be true. If it´s anywhere close to the truth, then add the Hornets 2026 to the above trade package and I bite your hand off.

OKC has three top 20 picks in this draft. My lord. Does Presti have an ownership stake in OKC by now. How in the world has nobody offered this man a fortune to run their big city franchise?

Charlotte also has the Magic pick in the upcoming draft. Throw that in, too. You know the Hornets are so irrelevant, they might actually do this. Of course gotta fire Nico first.

As I posted earlier, Charlotte has checked all the boxes for me on an AD trade partner:
- a team with multiple years of good picks 
- at least one promising young player 
- a team in the East where AD would springboard in the standings 
- a team who hasn't been relevant for years and may overpay just to feel alive again 
- and a core where AD's position and experience are a perfect fit

I think a loose package of AD for Kneppel, Claxton and multiple consecutive 1sts, which MUST include at least one of their three this year (I'd insist on whichever is the highest) would be a perfect move. 

Our view and value of AD will forever be jaded because an idiot traded our "Simba" for him. But like him or not, top 20 players who can dominate both ends have great value.

[cow]

4/5 FRPs seems delusional, but 2/3 sounds in the ballpark of reality depending on the team/situation.

[FireNicoHarrison]

4/5 FRPs seems delusional, but 2/3 sounds in the ballpark of reality depending on the team/situation.

Agree.

I don't know if Charlotte wants to build around LaMelo but AD is a good pick up for them... the have picks (our 27 pick for example) and young guys.

[ballsrchr]

https://x.com/nationmffl/status/19350859...06516?s=46

@NationMffl
Shams Charania:

“If you put Anthony Davis on the open market right now he’s fetching you four or five first-round picks right now.”

I would take this in a minute.  No...a second.  I don't believe it will happen though.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Davis is 32 and injured. His salary is 54 million, which is not easy to match.  

Atlanta: would take something like at least KP and Kennard to match the salary (I think they have some exception and room under the apron). Are they really so much better than to pay 4 picks for Davis?
 
Chicago: it would take something like Vucevic (or Collins), Williams and Huerter. They don't have 4 FRP to trade
 
Detroit: could be an option. They could put together the salaries without gutting the team and have the picks
 
San Antonio: are they ready for a total all-in move? Barnes, Johnson and Olynik gets them there salary wise and they have the picks. Davis would be a great fit with Wemby 

I appreciate the effort.  Doing this in-season would be really difficult.  Not only do you have the cap rules and the apron rules to contend with, you also have to keep roster limits in mind.  Many of the trades one might do involve at least 3 players coming to Dallas and we just don't have many small salaries to send back or send out alongside AD.  Oh, and then you have to try to find something that meets the needs of both teams...on court and financially.  Its tough.

I'm not sure I want all of the compensation to be future picks.  I'd be fine with a good younger player instead of multiple fake firsts or late firsts.   If Atlanta or San Antonio was impatient enough to try to pair AD with KP or Wemby, I'd be just as happy with a younger guy off of their roster as I would be with some of their picks.  I don't know what Ivey is going to be, but I'd want him in any package with Detroit.  Even with his pending unrestricted free agency, I'd want Coby White in any Chicago deal.

Personally, I don't see it.  AD needs to be maximized, not Porzingized.  I think it much more likely that Klay (or Klay and Gafford) are the outgoing.

[F Gump]

 I think it much more likely that Klay (or Klay and Gafford) are the outgoing.

I think the focus needs to be on who to target (who might be available) and then let the outgoing emerge from there. And I don't know who I would want them to target. It needs to be a creator of offense, but who is available that does that well?

[mvossman]

I appreciate the effort.  Doing this in-season would be really difficult.  Not only do you have the cap rules and the apron rules to contend with, you also have to keep roster limits in mind.  Many of the trades one might do involve at least 3 players coming to Dallas and we just don't have many small salaries to send back or send out alongside AD.  Oh, and then you have to try to find something that meets the needs of both teams...on court and financially.  Its tough.

I'm not sure I want all of the compensation to be future picks.  I'd be fine with a good younger player instead of multiple fake firsts or late firsts.   If Atlanta or San Antonio was impatient enough to try to pair AD with KP or Wemby, I'd be just as happy with a younger guy off of their roster as I would be with some of their picks.  I don't know what Ivey is going to be, but I'd want him in any package with Detroit.  Even with his pending unrestricted free agency, I'd want Coby White in any Chicago deal.

Personally, I don't see it.  AD needs to be maximized, not Porzingized.  I think it much more likely that Klay (or Klay and Gafford) are the outgoing.

I was with you 100% until that last paragraph.  Klay and Gafford are not going to bring back nearly enough to fix this roster.  The last thing I want to see is Nico sending out the remaining assets in a futile attempt to "maximize" AD.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I appreciate the effort.  Doing this in-season would be really difficult.  Not only do you have the cap rules and the apron rules to contend with, you also have to keep roster limits in mind.  Many of the trades one might do involve at least 3 players coming to Dallas and we just don't have many small salaries to send back or send out alongside AD.  Oh, and then you have to try to find something that meets the needs of both teams...on court and financially.  Its tough.

I'm not sure I want all of the compensation to be future picks.  I'd be fine with a good younger player instead of multiple fake firsts or late firsts.   If Atlanta or San Antonio was impatient enough to try to pair AD with KP or Wemby, I'd be just as happy with a younger guy off of their roster as I would be with some of their picks.  I don't know what Ivey is going to be, but I'd want him in any package with Detroit.  Even with his pending unrestricted free agency, I'd want Coby White in any Chicago deal.

Personally, I don't see it.  AD needs to be maximized, not Porzingized.  I think it much more likely that Klay (or Klay and Gafford) are the outgoing.

Nah, I'm not nearly as pessimistic at seeing the possibilities of an AD sized contract being moved Mid-season. Why?  Because history has shown that MULTIPLE* $50+ contracts were moved in the last ten months. If a team or teams are willing, they'll find a way. Shoot, Utah blindly participated. 

*AD, Luka, Jimmy Butler,

[vfromlmf]

Since Jaden Ivey is injured it would be right on brand for Nico to trade Klay and a future 1st for him.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Nico needs to get fired first before any trade happens. I'd like the Mavs to keep their second round picks this time. If Nico would have it his way he'd be giving second round picks up to the late 2030s. A trade like Lively + 2 second round picks for Valanciunas is never out of the question with Nico at the helm.

[JamesConway912]

Marc Stein reports it’s become “unavoidable at the highest levels” to not consider a mid season GM change for these reasons:

-“Vibe shift potential”
-Potential to win back alienated fans
-The GM who traded Luka Dončić can no longer be the one who tries to move the Mavs past it

https://x.com/mavsfilmroom/status/198768...54104?s=46&t=-bN4oD2OLU_Ue80HIM_CZQ

[KillerLeft]

Marc Stein reports it’s become “unavoidable at the highest levels” to not consider a mid season GM change for these reasons:

-“Vibe shift potential”
-Potential to win back alienated fans
-The GM who traded Luka Dončić can no longer be the one who tries to move the Mavs past it

https://x.com/mavsfilmroom/status/198768...54104?s=46&t=-bN4oD2OLU_Ue80HIM_CZQ

I agree. 

But, in the same way that people can't get excited about starting over with Harrison making decisions (valid), I can't get excited about starting over around Flagg with Kidd coaching the team. I think he's the absolute worst.

[DL2RimRocker]

I agree. 

But, in the same way that people can't get excited about starting over with Harrison making decisions (valid), I can't get excited about starting over around Flagg with Kidd coaching the team. I think he's the absolute worst.

It makes absolutely no sense to have a HOF PG coaching a Point Guardless team.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I agree. 

But, in the same way that people can't get excited about starting over with Harrison making decisions (valid), I can't get excited about starting over around Flagg with Kidd coaching the team. I think he's the absolute worst.

One move at time... Keep calm.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Nah, I'm not nearly as pessimistic at seeing the possibilities of an AD sized contract being moved Mid-season. Why?  Because history has shown that MULTIPLE* $50+ contracts were moved in the last ten months. If a team or teams are willing, they'll find a way. Shoot, Utah blindly participated. 

*AD, Luka, Jimmy Butler,

I'm not sure you've made an argument for maximizing AD's value in an in-season trade.  It is universally accepted that Nico got fleeced on the Luka deal.  Miami didn't get young players (30 year old Wiggins and 27 year old Mitchell) or pick(s) (a protected 2025 that ended up in the 20's) for Butler.  

I will say that I admire the fact you are at least throwing things out there (your Charlotte idea) and not simply asserting things to be true.  I presume you mean Sexton instead of Claxton.  They aren't trading Knueppel.  To get to a legal trade, it will need to be Sexton and Miles Bridges or Sexton, Grant Williams and Josh Green once you remove Knueppel as a possibility (so let's presume it is Sexton and Bridges).  

They can take players into an exception, which makes it easier to trade match and then add things from the Dallas side to keep the rosters balanced (so, it could be Davis/Hardy in an exception for Sexton/Bridges).  And, they have stockpiled some picks.  The problem with Charlotte is they changed out management and aren't doing dumb Charlotte things like they used to.  I would agree they were a possibility under the old regime.  Nowadays it feels like they are being run by actual professionals.  With that said...if Charlotte would do it, would we be interested in Bridges, Sexton and our 2027 back for Davis/Hardy?  I wouldn't.  I think that would be the epitome of impatience