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

[Chicagojk]

It is a really tricky equation.    Move AD now and get limited return.   He plays well to build up his value and this team will win.   I mean they are not a contender but I could definitely see them easily as a play in team.  I don't particularly like watching AD play, but I would be fine keeping him around if we got another good draft pick.   The question is how do we get there.

Also, I hope the interim GM's don't get bullied into talking about extensions.  If I am them, that is off the table now.  If we keep AD it is because we want him on the roster.   An extension is not needed.  I know agents put pressure on teams but he has two full years left on his contract and will be 35 when it expires.   I am under now pressure to have extension conversations now.   Maybe that can happen next year, although set the expectations it will not be for 50 million a year.    No reason to be bullied into extension talks.

[F Gump]

Also, I hope the interim GM's don't get bullied into talking about extensions.  If I am them, that is off the table now.  If we keep AD it is because we want him on the roster.   An extension is not needed.  I know agents put pressure on teams but he has two full years left on his contract and will be 35 when it expires.   I am under now pressure to have extension conversations now.   Maybe that can happen next year, although set the expectations it will not be for 50 million a year.    No reason to be bullied into extension talks.

The Shams article on this topic was parroting agent BS and minimizing the info the Mavs are really sharing.

"The Mavs are facing the pressure of being forced into a tough decision right now where it's either trade AD or give him a massive max extension, of about $275M" says Shams.

Yet eventually he reveals that the Mavs say they feel no such pressure. The idea of an extension? Not a concern, we have other things to figure out. Trade? Maybe, maybe not, we are evaluating things.

They aren't in a rush at all, there is no panic to make a move, even though Shams wants them to be. Good for them. 

FWIW this looks like the same reporting game we have seen MANY times with Giannis already. "He has to be traded, MIL has to act, here are the choices, ...." --- and then nothing happens because it was all overstated ntonsense. And a few months later, on a slow day, Giannis click bait starts again.

[Jakeospikez]

It's insulting to even have a meme trade in an article where Poeltl's contract gets sent to the Mavs in an AD deal. Bad salary is not even remotely an option for a team that already has a new franchise player.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Pistons beat reporter

[Sankofa II] I’m told the Pistons haven’t had talks with the Mavericks regarding Anthony Davis. It’s hard to see the logic of a trade from Detroit’s side.

[Jakeospikez]

Why wouldn’t a team that’s a contender want to trade their picks in the soonest draft? When they know they will be picking in the 20’s. If they wait for future years they could be giving up a good pick due to the volatile nature of the NBA and injuries.

I guess it's cause their near term pick(s) have so low value or they've already traded them, but most of the time the trades are mortgaging the future to try and build a contender. Mavs just did it with the moves to try and build a contender around Luka, trade future picks to get Kyrie, PJ etc.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Pistons beat reporter

[Sankofa II] I’m told the Pistons haven’t had talks with the Mavericks regarding Anthony Davis. It’s hard to see the logic of a trade from Detroit’s side.

I agree. They have youth and athleticism in their favor and just need to shore up their 3 pt shooting.  They've come a long way from just 3 yrs ago. Why risk it with an AD trade, giving up valuable assets in young players and picks for a player who is great when healthy but has proven to be unreliable from that perspective?

[mvossman]

I agree. They have youth and athleticism in their favor and just need to shore up their 3 pt shooting.  They've come a long way from just 3 yrs ago. Why risk it with an AD trade, giving up valuable assets in young players and picks for a player who is great when healthy but has proven to be unreliable from that perspective?

Yeah, it really seems like Atlanta makes the most sense if they don't end up with Giannis.  I still think Chicago is a possibility.

[Dirknows]

Yeah, it really seems like Atlanta makes the most sense if they don't end up with Giannis.  I still think Chicago is a possibility.

Atlanta wants to get rid of Trae, and we don't want Trae, definitely don't want Lavine. I don't know if there is a team that even wants Trae or Lavine. So I don't know how that deal would work. I'd consider the Atlanta deal if it was just a less protected Warriors pick and the better of the NOP/MIL 2027 pick. Bulls are in a free fall and AD doesn't fit with their timeline.

[Chicagojk]

According to a source, Coby White has been inquired about, and time is of the essence in the Bulls making a decision. The source said that Minnesota is not looking to wait until February and the trade deadline to get a deal done, looking to fix the primary ball-handling situation that’s been an issue all season long for them

************************
It will be interesting to see what Minny could offer.    I don't think they can put together a great offer.   It is the type of move I could see the Minny GM doing.    They need more backcourt help.  While I don't think White is a point guard, he would be a welcome addition to their backcourt.

BTW, Mavs fandom took hate to a whole another level last year, but man the Bulls fans hate their team, GM, owner, etc.    They are not a happy bunch.  

[DanSchwartzgan]

It is kind of funny that Toronto always makes the list of interested teams and no one ever comments on them.  

I suspect the Poeltl contract is a big part of the reason.  I've long liked him as an efficient middle of the pack starting center.  Obviously not a star and obviously overpaid.  The last year of his 4 remaining year contract is only GTD for $5.0mm, but still $19/$27/$25mm after this season is really high.  

I've never been a huge fan of Barrett, but he's a 25 year old 20 ppg scorer who is pretty consistent from year to year.  My worry with him is Duffy is his guy and I can't imagine Duffy is too happy with us right now.  Barrett is UFA after next season.

You could do a lot worse than Kyrie, Barrett, Flagg, PJ and Poeltl backed up by Nembhard, Max, Klay, Naji and Lively (hopefully in 26/27).  

On top of that, you get a 2026 pick and expiring Agbaji from Toronto and for including Gafford, you get recent lottery pick Jarace Walker and a protected 2027 first from Indiana.  That is very good value for Gafford and since you won't be tanking after this year, it isn't exactly bottoming out either.   The deal is a 4 for 2, so more would have to happen.  None of these trades from ESPN are inspiring, but it feels like the Toronto mention might deserve more attention than it is getting currently.

[mvossman]

It is kind of funny that Toronto always makes the list of interested teams and no one ever comments on them.  

I suspect the Poeltl contract is a big part of the reason.  I've long liked him as an efficient middle of the pack starting center.  Obviously not a star and obviously overpaid.  The last year of his 4 remaining year contract is only GTD for $5.0mm, but still $19/$27/$25mm after this season is really high.  

I've never been a huge fan of Barrett, but he's a 25 year old 20 ppg scorer who is pretty consistent from year to year.  My worry with him is Duffy is his guy and I can't imagine Duffy is too happy with us right now.  Barrett is UFA after next season.

You could do a lot worse than Kyrie, Barrett, Flagg, PJ and Poeltl backed up by Nembhard, Max, Klay, Naji and Lively (hopefully in 26/27).  

On top of that, you get a 2026 pick and expiring Agbaji from Toronto and for including Gafford, you get recent lottery pick Jarace Walker and a protected 2027 first from Indiana.  That is very good value for Gafford and since you won't be tanking after this year, it isn't exactly bottoming out either.   The deal is a 4 for 2, so more would have to happen.  None of these trades from ESPN are inspiring, but it feels like the Toronto mention might deserve more attention than it is getting currently.

I really hate that Poeltl contract and not a huge fan of Barrett (another poor shooter).  I think the package of those two has negative value due to the size of those contracts.  The only thing in that trade that moves the needle is the 26 pick, but good chance Toronto will manage to stay out of the lottery in the East.  Maybe you are betting on AD breaking.  Maybe those kids have something and you are buying low, but they are both really shitting the bed this season.

That looks like a good team that is not particularly young and has no chance to contend.  Personally I am looking for a little harder reset than this.

[DallasMaverick]

I agree. They have youth and athleticism in their favor and just need to shore up their 3 pt shooting.  They've come a long way from just 3 yrs ago. Why risk it with an AD trade, giving up valuable assets in young players and picks for a player who is great when healthy but has proven to be unreliable from that perspective?

Maybe. 

But look what Houston did. They had lots of promising young talent- and went and acquired seasoned vets. And are winning.

This might be the new formula that GM’s are chasing.

[Smitty]

The Dallas Mavericks want to see Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis play together before they make any big trades, per @TomerAzarly

“That obviously could change, assuming you get the right package for AD.”

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

any updates on Kyrie?

[Smitty]

[Siegel] The Indiana Pacers would be willing to move off of Bennedict Mathurin for a "big upgrade" like Ivica Zubac or Daniel Gafford.

[Dirknows]

[Siegel] The Indiana Pacers would be willing to move off of Bennedict Mathurin for a "big upgrade" like Ivica Zubac or Daniel Gafford.

Done.

[Smitty]

[Stein] Chicago is not expected to show interest in Anthony Davis, but they are a team to watch when it comes to Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga. The Bulls, meanwhile, continue to field trade interest in guard Coby White.

[Dirknows]

It is kind of funny that Toronto always makes the list of interested teams and no one ever comments on them.  

I suspect the Poeltl contract is a big part of the reason.  I've long liked him as an efficient middle of the pack starting center.  Obviously not a star and obviously overpaid.  The last year of his 4 remaining year contract is only GTD for $5.0mm, but still $19/$27/$25mm after this season is really high.  

I've never been a huge fan of Barrett, but he's a 25 year old 20 ppg scorer who is pretty consistent from year to year.  My worry with him is Duffy is his guy and I can't imagine Duffy is too happy with us right now.  Barrett is UFA after next season.

You could do a lot worse than Kyrie, Barrett, Flagg, PJ and Poeltl backed up by Nembhard, Max, Klay, Naji and Lively (hopefully in 26/27).  

On top of that, you get a 2026 pick and expiring Agbaji from Toronto and for including Gafford, you get recent lottery pick Jarace Walker and a protected 2027 first from Indiana.  That is very good value for Gafford and since you won't be tanking after this year, it isn't exactly bottoming out either.   The deal is a 4 for 2, so more would have to happen.  None of these trades from ESPN are inspiring, but it feels like the Toronto mention might deserve more attention than it is getting currently.

That Poetl contract is just brutal. But I suppose if AD gets hurt his contract is brutal. The 2026 pick will be in the 20's. Pacers pick will be post lottery in 2027. Unless someone blows us out of the water with an offer, we need to hold on to AD until the deadline and hope somebody blinks.

[Smitty]

It’s “by no means automatic” that the Mavs will trade Anthony Davis before the NBA trade deadline, per @TheSteinLine

“Yet sources with knowledge of Dallas' thinking insist that it will not just trade him in-season for the sake of it if the offers received are deemed to be subpar in the wake of Davis' injury woe since the 32-year-old became a Maverick… It is believed that Dumont — knowing the trade can't be undone and more than cognizant of its damaging aftermath given what's transpired in Dallas over the past 10 months — wants to see more from Davis for evaluation purposes rather than rush into another deal that compounds mistakes already made.”

[Smitty]

any updates on Kyrie?

The NBA just announced the Mavs home game against the Sixers on New Year's Day will now be televised by NBA TV.


Feels like a good return date…