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

[DanSchwartzgan]

OK, back to sharing ideas (which I was doing before I derailed myself with the Kuminga stuff)...

All Things Mav's put out two ideas last night:

Number One...
Chi: Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st and 2028 swap

Number Two...
Chi:  Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Okoro, Collins, two unprotected 1sts and one 2nd.

In the first deal, there is room to send Caleb Martin and keep Chicago under the tax (and Dallas under the first apron).  That trade is legal today.  In the second deal, Martin makes $268k too much to be included.  Make it Naji instead of Martin on the second deal and it is legal today and leaves Chicago $1.0mm under the tax and Dallas $327k under the first apron.


It does kind of feel like there is some negotiation in the media going on.  Chicago:  'We're not willing to take the risk on AD at the moment and if we do, we won't give up core assets'.  OK, who is core on a team with four PG's, three of which are FA's this summer?  From what I've read, I think Core is Giddy, Buzelis, Essengue and Dosumnu.  I've seen conflicting reports on how dedicated they are to paying White.

I'll take the opposite side from some here on the timing of this.  The moment you have someone like White or Ayo plus two picks in a deal and you don't have to take back garbage contracts, I pull the trigger.  We've talked about one reason a lot (AD is a walking injury time bomb).  The other is we aren't the only team that will be selling to try to enhance draft position.  I want to be an early seller if I can get close to what I want.  I think that the first All Things Mav's deal (with 2027 unprotected and a lightly protected 2028 swap (which is really a swap with OKC for all intents and purposes) would be enough for me.  I would then look to deal expirings like Vuc or Huerter (or maybe Gafford as I can play Vuc now) for other assets.

[loki]

Side note to any AD trades: If the Mavs are taking back significantly less salary than they're sending out, I think they might have an opportunity to loop in a 3rd team and snag a few 2nds for cap relief. For example, Cleveland is estimated to owe $160m in tax this year. If Dallas offered a Brandon Williams for Lonzo Ball swap it would save the Cavs around $55m. I'm sure there will be plenty of competition for deals like this though. And maybe Dallas just prefers to save the money on their own tax bill.

[loki]

OK, back to sharing ideas (which I was doing before I derailed myself with the Kuminga stuff)...

All Things Mav's put out two ideas last night:

Number One...
Chi: Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st and 2028 swap

Number Two...
Chi:  Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Okoro, Collins, two unprotected 1sts and one 2nd.

In the first deal, there is room to send Caleb Martin and keep Chicago under the tax (and Dallas under the first apron).  That trade is legal today.  In the second deal, Martin makes $268k too much to be included.  Make it Naji instead of Martin on the second deal and it is legal today and leaves Chicago $1.0mm under the tax and Dallas $327k under the first apron.


It does kind of feel like there is some negotiation in the media going on.  Chicago:  'We're not willing to take the risk on AD at the moment and if we do, we won't give up core assets'.  OK, who is core on a team with four PG's, three of which are FA's this summer?  From what I've read, I think Core is Giddy, Buzelis, Essengue and Dosumnu.  I've seen conflicting reports on how dedicated they are to paying White.

I'll take the opposite side from some here on the timing of this.  The moment you have someone like White or Ayo plus two picks in a deal and you don't have to take back garbage contracts, I pull the trigger.  We've talked about one reason a lot (AD is a walking injury time bomb).  The other is we aren't the only team that will be selling to try to enhance draft position.  I want to be an early seller if I can get close to what I want.  I think that the first All Things Mav's deal (with 2027 unprotected and a lightly protected 2028 swap (which is really a swap with OKC for all intents and purposes) would be enough for me.  I would then look to deal expirings like Vuc or Huerter (or maybe Gafford as I can play Vuc now) for other assets.

I was thinking Vuc and AD might actually work well together. If you use Collins as the salary filler instead it would probably be easier to negotiate better picks.

[F Gump]

OK, back to sharing ideas (which I was doing before I derailed myself with the Kuminga stuff)...

All Things Mav's put out two ideas last night:

Number One...
Chi: Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st and 2028 swap

Number Two...
Chi:  Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Okoro, Collins, two unprotected 1sts and one 2nd.

In the first deal, there is room to send Caleb Martin and keep Chicago under the tax (and Dallas under the first apron).  That trade is legal today.  

I don't know that I like any of those.

But if I have to choose, I opt for [and modify with]
Chi: Anthony Davis, Martin
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st [unprotected] and 2028 swap, [and I need another pick]

There's also an issue of roster slots, even with Martin outgoing. That needs to be figured out as part of the equation -- it can be a deal-killer. You could replace Martin with Hardy-Exum?

[Mavs2021]

OK, back to sharing ideas (which I was doing before I derailed myself with the Kuminga stuff)...

All Things Mav's put out two ideas last night:

Number One...
Chi: Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st and 2028 swap

Number Two...
Chi:  Anthony Davis
Dal:  Vucevic, Okoro, Collins, two unprotected 1sts and one 2nd.

In the first deal, there is room to send Caleb Martin and keep Chicago under the tax (and Dallas under the first apron).  That trade is legal today.  In the second deal, Martin makes $268k too much to be included.  Make it Naji instead of Martin on the second deal and it is legal today and leaves Chicago $1.0mm under the tax and Dallas $327k under the first apron.


It does kind of feel like there is some negotiation in the media going on.  Chicago:  'We're not willing to take the risk on AD at the moment and if we do, we won't give up core assets'.  OK, who is core on a team with four PG's, three of which are FA's this summer?  From what I've read, I think Core is Giddy, Buzelis, Essengue and Dosumnu.  I've seen conflicting reports on how dedicated they are to paying White.

I'll take the opposite side from some here on the timing of this.  The moment you have someone like White or Ayo plus two picks in a deal and you don't have to take back garbage contracts, I pull the trigger.  We've talked about one reason a lot (AD is a walking injury time bomb).  The other is we aren't the only team that will be selling to try to enhance draft position.  I want to be an early seller if I can get close to what I want.  I think that the first All Things Mav's deal (with 2027 unprotected and a lightly protected 2028 swap (which is really a swap with OKC for all intents and purposes) would be enough for me.  I would then look to deal expirings like Vuc or Huerter (or maybe Gafford as I can play Vuc now) for other assets.

Say we allow the Bulls to keep a S5 of Giddey, Dosunmu, Buzelis, AD, Vucevic. We take White, Collins, Huerter and Essengue.

I think it´s more than fair to ask for the 2026 and 2028 1st unprotected and the Bulls need to have enough confidence that they make the play-offs this year, otherwise what is the point of the trade?

I think they´ll still lose in the play-in and you got your lotto pick. 2028 is also a better year than 2027. The older Vucevic/AD get the worse this Bulls team becomes. You can probably even hedge your Bulls bet by trading White to the Bucks for their 1st. They need to make a win now move foir Giannis and desperately need a guard.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I don't know that I like any of those.

But if I have to choose, I opt for [and modify with]
Chi: Anthony Davis, Martin
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st [unprotected] and 2028 swap, [and I need another pick]

There's also an issue of roster slots, even with Martin outgoing. That needs to be figured out as part of the equation -- it can be a deal-killer. You could replace Martin with Hardy-Exum?

Couldn't you just cut Exum (in the deal where AD and Martin are outgoing and three players are returning)?

[DanSchwartzgan]

Say we allow the Bulls to keep a S5 of Giddey, Dosunmu, Buzelis, AD, Vucevic. We take White, Collins, Huerter and Essengue.

I think it´s more than fair to ask for the 2026 and 2028 1st unprotected and the Bulls need to have enough confidence that they make the play-offs this year, otherwise what is the point of the trade?

I think they´ll still lose in the play-in and you got your lotto pick. 2028 is also a better year than 2027. The older Vucevic/AD get the worse this Bulls team becomes.  

I'm buying all that you mention in the first two paragraphs.  I brought up Essengue several days ago and don't know how he became untouchable in the G-league all of a sudden.  It will be hard to develop him on a team with Davis, Buzelis and Williams.

I will point out that an unprotected swap in 2028 is almost as good as an unprotected Bulls pick.  In both cases you get the unprotected Bulls pick.  The question is really how badly you want the last pick in the first round from OKC.  

I can argue both sides of the 27 vs. 28 thing.  We don't have a pick in 2027.  Having one opens up some things we can't currently do.  But, waiting until 2028 gives Flagg a little more development time.  By then we might want to use some pick capital (unprotected picks from Chicago and LA) to acquire whatever else we need to go along with Flagg and our 2026 pick(s).

[F Gump]

Couldn't you just cut Exum (in the deal where AD and Martin are outgoing and three players are returning)?

You could, and that's a solution that's much better. I just didn't think of it when I was writing. Thanks.

I still think there is likely to be a better solution than CHI ones being floated, but out of those CHI ones, I prefer 
Chi: Anthony Davis, Martin
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st [unprotected] and 2028 swap, and another pick

It still feels to me like a poo-poo platter of scraps for a really top player. I don't think the 2026 pick will be special. AD could make them a solid playoff team going forward ruining later picks too. BUT compared to other CHI ideas, I like this a lot more than the others we're seeing.

[Mavs2021]

You could, and that's a solution that's much better. I just didn't think of it when I was writing. Thanks.

I still think there is likely to be a better solution than CHI ones being floated, but out of those CHI ones, I prefer 
Chi: Anthony Davis, Martin
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st [unprotected] and 2028 swap, and another pick

It still feels to me like a poo-poo platter of scraps for a really top player. I don't think the 2026 pick will be special. AD could make them a solid playoff team going forward ruining later picks too. BUT compared to other CHI ideas, I like this a lot more than the others we're seeing.

I really don´t see how removing 90 high end rotational minutes from 240 and replacing them with AD makes the Bulls a better team this season. We are 1-4 with AD. Are you saying Buzelis and Giddey are the hot sh*t, cause that´s all that will be left of the Bulls, if your trade goes through. 

I doubt they make the play-offs, if AD plays literally every game. If you allow them to keep their 2026 pick AND they can make more moves in the summer of 2026, the probability that your Chicago pick will be worse in a worse 2027 draft is pretty high. Makes no sense at all.

[Chicagojk]

Not saying I would do this but what about Philly?

Paul George is the salary. Could you get Grimes and McCain. They also have some picks I believe. Maybe you could pawn off Klay to them as well.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

First off, even after 2.5 games, I'm ready to anoint Nembhard the Mavs' PG of the Future (in other words, it's his position until he plays his way out of it. The Mavs don't need to go out of their way to trade for another PG right now).

But if part of an AD trade is accumulating assets (picks and players) and, let's say Chicago says, "we'll include Coby White". Are you comfortable moving him on to a third team as opposed to keeping him? Where do you think he'd go and what do you think his value across the league is? If a healthy-ish AD (looking like he did against the Nuggets) can get 3 1st+, is White what can push it over the future assets finish line?

Do you think Houston would give up 2027 Nets swap to have their PG issues solved?

[F Gump]

First off, even after 2.5 games, I'm ready to anoint Nembhard the Mavs' PG of the Future (in other words, it's his position until he plays his way out of it. The Mavs don't need to go out of their way to trade for another PG right now).

But if part of an AD trade is accumulating assets (picks and players) and, let's say Chicago says, "we'll include Coby White".  Are you comfortable moving him on to a third team as opposed to keeping him? Where do you think he'd go and what do you think his value across the league is? If a healthy-ish AD (looking like he did against the Nuggets) can get 3 1st+, is White what can push it over the future assets finish line?

Do you think Houston would give up 2027 Nets swap to have their PG issues solved?

I don't follow who is going where, in what you have written. Sorry.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Don't put too much hype on Nembhard please, he has great playmaking skills and high IQ but his size could be a problem in PO... Doncic, Ant, Brown ecc ecc will hunt him all the time.

I think he will be a good back-up but we still need a starter... And i don't know if 33 yo Irving after a torn ACL is the solution.

[Winter]

Don't put too much hype on Nembhard please, he has great playmaking skills and high IQ but his size could be a problem in PO... Doncic, Ant, Brown ecc ecc will hunt him all the time.

I think he will be a good back-up but we still need a starter... And i don't know if 33 yo Irving after a torn ACL is the solution.

Maybe, but I'm not sure Coby White has enough value now to be the primary target of AD in a trade. Nembhard has changed that math enough to make me want to look elsewhere for an AD trade. Maybe you play White as a second guard once Kyrie returns, but the return on the trade still isn't good enough (not to mention Max Christie is playing well at that position now).

[DanSchwartzgan]

I don't know that I like any of those.

But if I have to choose, I opt for [and modify with]
Chi: Anthony Davis, Martin
Dal:  Vucevic, Huerter, White, 2027 1st [unprotected] and 2028 swap, [and I need another pick]

There's also an issue of roster slots, even with Martin outgoing. That needs to be figured out as part of the equation -- it can be a deal-killer. You could replace Martin with Hardy-Exum?

I spent some time trying to think this through from Chicago's standpoint.  They are doing this to win now.  So, I don't think we can approach this in a way that takes currently productive players off of their roster.  IOW, this can't be win-now for both teams.  So, Vucevic and White probably need to stay in Chicago.  AD is taking the minutes currently occupied by Collins (when available) and PWill.  With Buzelis and AD, there is no reason to pay Williams $18mm/year to be a third string PF.  From their perspective, he has to be in the deal.  Chicago rarely pays tax, so doing this in a way that keeps them under the tax is also a requirement.  I think three unprotected picks would be hard to sell.  That 2028 swap idea (which gives Chicago OKC's pick) is pretty valuable if unprotected and sounds much better to fans.

Dallas wants picks and young difference makers.  It makes sense to pine for White and Dosumnu, but are they really difference makers?  If we aren't trying to win this year, it makes more sense to go for long term prospect Essengue than trying to fill a short term need at guard.  I think the play here is to make the deal large enough so that we can send back some excess salary.  For instance, Williams, Collins, Huerter and Essengue is $59.3mm of outgoing.  Dallas can send AD plus players making an additional $18mm - $18.5mm and still leave Chicago comfortably under the tax.  That would allow you to send some combination of Martin, Naji, Hardy, DLo and Powell.  You need to send at least two out to balance rosters and three would be better if you want to later cut Exum to give Nembhard a standard NBA contract.  I agree that Dallas needs three draft assets, but I'd be fine if one of those is an unprotected swap.

So, that leaves something like:

Chicago outgoing:  Collins, PWill, Huerter and Essengue plus unprotected Bulls pick (26 or 27), the unprotected 2028 swap and another unprotected pick (29 or 30).  

Dallas outgoing:  AD, Martin (Dlo or Hardy) and Exum.  

Much depends on Essengue being good and able to fit next to Flagg.  Defensively, they might be incredible together.  Offensively they both rely heavily on getting to the basket.  Both (especially Essengue) will need to develop a 3 point shot.  If this were the deal, the Luka trade will have netted Christie, Essengue, 3 unprotected firsts (LA, CHI, CHI) and an unprotected swap (CHI).  Those are quality firsts (not like some deals where you get more, but lower quality).  Plus, Essengue was a lottery pick.  You'll never get enough for Luka, but now that you have Cooper, it makes sense as a start to building around his timeline.

[Smitty]

Chicago outgoing:  Collins, PWill, Huerter and Essengue plus unprotected Bulls pick (26 or 27), the unprotected 2028 swap and another unprotected pick (29 or 30).  

Dallas outgoing:  AD, Martin (Dlo or Hardy) and Exum.  

I think you're much closer to what's likely to happen in a Davis to CHI trade, but man I don't like it. I don't know much about the rookie French kid to be honest. Has he even played this year?

I agree that Pat Williams is almost a lock to be in the hypothetical deal. Not something I want from the Mavs POV but feels mandatory from CHI side. If Martin and Hardy are outgoing, you get rid of all your bad/negative contracts (except PWill). 

The next logical move would be trading Klay for another pick or asset. Huerter can fill his role for a lost season.


In the end, I'd be pretty down if this was the trade. Maybe I need to watch more of Essengue to change my mind?

[Dirknows]

I think you're much closer to what's likely to happen in a Davis to CHI trade, but man I don't like it. I don't know much about the rookie French kid to be honest. Has he even played this year?

I agree that Pat Williams is almost a lock to be in the hypothetical deal. Not something I want from the Mavs POV but feels mandatory from CHI side. If Martin and Hardy are outgoing, you get rid of all your bad/negative contracts (except PWill). 

The next logical move would be trading Klay for another pick or asset. Huerter can fill his role for a lost season.


In the end, I'd be pretty down if this was the trade. Maybe I need to watch more of Essengue to change my mind?

I’d be surprised if the Bulls included Essengue, they don’t know what they have in him either.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
People around the league believe Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Trae Young all have “negative value” and wouldn’t be surprised if they were traded for one another, per
@espn


"I wouldn't want any of them,"

"They all might have negative value,"

"When there are these sort of unwanted superstars, sometimes they end up getting traded for each other. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens in this case."

[Dirknows]

@TheDunkCentral
People around the league believe Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Trae Young all have “negative value” and wouldn’t be surprised if they were traded for one another, per
@espn


"I wouldn't want any of them,"

"They all might have negative value,"

"When there are these sort of unwanted superstars, sometimes they end up getting traded for each other. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens in this case."

Ja is easily the least desirable. Trae is pretty useless too. I think a team could talk themselves into LaMelo since he appeared to be an up and coming superstar not too long ago. Might need a change of scenery and could use some vet presence since he appears to be pretty immature.

[SleepingHero]

I spent some time trying to think this through from Chicago's standpoint... So, I don't think we can approach this in a way that takes currently productive players off of their roster. 

I don't understand this thought process. Why must Dallas be the one appeasing every team in every trade? Chicago wants to win now and wants one of the best centers in the league. They have to pay for it. Either through a large amount of picks or through productive players.

I don't see why Dallas must settle for a pu-pu-platter. Any AD deal should require White+ multiple firsts. He's a premier talent. If it was the Mavs on the other end of this trying to trade for AD, we'd be saying "Chicago would never accept a deal without a young piece like Christie plus a boatload of 1sts". 


CHI, at the minimum, should send 3 FRP, plus swaps. Historically, top 15 guys getting traded in their 30s still fetch a good haul.

James Harden to Brooklyn got HOU 3 FRP (unprotected), 4 FRP swaps, and a damaged star in Oladipo. BRK had to pay a significant haul. 

Heck even 2 years ago when Harden looked washed, Philly still managed to get 2 FRPs (1 unprotected, 1 protected) and 2 FRP swaps from LAC and OKC.