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

[mvossman]

There is no way they can even sell the idea of KP being a positive in a trade. He is salary filler only now.  So is Trae Young for that matter. 

If they are unwilling to give up Jalen Johnson or Dyson Daniels (which they shouldn't) then i don't see a working Atlanta trade if they are unwilling to give up that Pelicans pick.

I would take Risacher and the 27 pick (worse of NOP and MIL top 4 protected) which could easily be lottery.

[Nowitzki Way]

I would take Risacher and the 27 pick (worse of NOP and MIL top 4 protected) which could easily be lottery.

That 27 pick looks so complicated. I'd rather just get the 26 and Risascher and be done with it.

[mvossman]

That 27 pick looks so complicated. I'd rather just get the 26 and Risascher and be done with it.

LOL!

[Nowitzki Way]

LOL!

Now, if we can get Trae added for salary and we flip him in a 3 way for more picks.  I'm sold.  But it appears no one wants Trae.

[Mavs2021]

I would take Risacher and the 27 pick (worse of NOP and MIL top 4 protected) which could easily be lottery.

I agree with people that say that overall draft quality can sometimes be misjudged, more specifically weaker draft. Usually though that is a result of great/good players going unrecognized like in 2013 with #10 McCollum, #12 Adams, #15 Giannis, #17 Schroeder, #24 THJ, #27 Gobert. Problem is that the draft is judged on the perceived top talent and that is usually judged correctly. In 2013 the top 7 were all poor, except Oladipo. 2027 much like 2024 is supposed to be weak at the top.

Furthermore I have to know whether Risacher is elite defensively, cause otherwise his only interesting number is #1 pick.

If they intentionally screw up their draft odds and trade AD anyway, might as well get Trae Young back with the Cavs 2026 pick (via Hawks).

[Chicagojk]

I keep coming back to the trade that Bill Simmons came up with a few weeks ago.   Gafford to GS with an expiring, Kuminga to Chicago, and Coby White to Dallas.


Since he mentioned this GS has continued to crater and Kuminga is not playing (DNP-CD).  The Bulls have been awful and Gafford has been spotty when he has played.   He hasn't been healthy this year. 

What are these teams going to do?  GS will move Kuminga but as they saw this summer the demand is not high.   A Monk level player seems to be the range.  A solid, but not spectacular guy.    A guy like Gafford who plays hard and is a good teammate may be a solid return (certainly not the level they were hoping for though).

As mentioned above Chicago has been awful and White is a free agent.  With there recent play, does resigning White do anything for them?   In Kuminga the Chicago GM gets what they like best.  A former high pick with all the correct traits.   They can sell it that Kuminga is younger and bigger than White.

For Dallas they get a 25 year old who has some risk being a FA this summer.  But add him to the 22-27 aged players and you are starting to see a more balanced roster.  You can keep AD and Kyrie is no offer blows you away.   You realize you are thin at backup center which isn't a concern this year anyway.

[mvossman]

I keep coming back to the trade that Bill Simmons came up with a few weeks ago.   Gafford to GS with an expiring, Kuminga to Chicago, and Coby White to Dallas.


Since he mentioned this GS has continued to crater and Kuminga is not playing (DNP-CD).  The Bulls have been awful and Gafford has been spotty when he has played.   He hasn't been healthy this year. 

What are these teams going to do?  GS will move Kuminga but as they saw this summer the demand is not high.   A Monk level player seems to be the range.  A solid, but not spectacular guy.    A guy like Gafford who plays hard and is a good teammate may be a solid return (certainly not the level they were hoping for though).

As mentioned above Chicago has been awful and White is a free agent.  With there recent play, does resigning White do anything for them?   In Kuminga the Chicago GM gets what they like best.  A former high pick with all the correct traits.   They can sell it that Kuminga is younger and bigger than White.

For Dallas they get a 25 year old who has some risk being a FA this summer.  But add him to the 22-27 aged players and you are starting to see a more balanced roster.  You can keep AD and Kyrie is no offer blows you away.   You realize you are thin at backup center which isn't a concern this year anyway.

If we are trading Gafford for a gunner who is going to cost in the offseason, I think I would prefer Mathurin to White.  He is more than two years younger with more upside and he will be restricted.

[Chicagojk]

If we are trading Gafford for a gunner who is going to cost in the offseason, I think I would prefer Mathurin to White.  He is more than two years younger with more upside and he will be restricted.

With not being an expert on both, I would agree.  I just think Mathurin would be have a higher price tag.   Him being restricted and older are probably two reasons why.

[Winter]

I keep coming back to the trade that Bill Simmons came up with a few weeks ago.   Gafford to GS with an expiring, Kuminga to Chicago, and Coby White to Dallas.


Since he mentioned this GS has continued to crater and Kuminga is not playing (DNP-CD).  The Bulls have been awful and Gafford has been spotty when he has played.   He hasn't been healthy this year. 

What are these teams going to do?  GS will move Kuminga but as they saw this summer the demand is not high.   A Monk level player seems to be the range.  A solid, but not spectacular guy.    A guy like Gafford who plays hard and is a good teammate may be a solid return (certainly not the level they were hoping for though).

As mentioned above Chicago has been awful and White is a free agent.  With there recent play, does resigning White do anything for them?   In Kuminga the Chicago GM gets what they like best.  A former high pick with all the correct traits.   They can sell it that Kuminga is younger and bigger than White.

For Dallas they get a 25 year old who has some risk being a FA this summer.  But add him to the 22-27 aged players and you are starting to see a more balanced roster.  You can keep AD and Kyrie is no offer blows you away.   You realize you are thin at backup center which isn't a concern this year anyway.

If I'm the Mavericks considering what I would like to see from the team in the next few months, I'm not sure that's the trade I need now. Things have changed in the last month, and maybe Kyrie is close to returning. So is Coby the new PG? For how long? Maybe he replaces Klay as the other guard, but Coby isn't shooting the 3 ball worth a crap now, so he doesn't answer our perimeter shooting problem. Nembhard and Williams look adequate for now at PG, and Nembie is probably a better PG than White overall. 

And if you're wanting to see the best version of the Mavericks soon, it wouldn't hurt to have Gafford coming off the bench if he's healthy. 

At this point in the season, I feel less attracted to White and slightly more protective of Gafford. That trade doesn't really do it for me anymore.

Edit: as per the comments above, I do still like Gafford for Mathurin. That trade has more clarity to it.

[mvossman]

I agree with people that say that overall draft quality can sometimes be misjudged, more specifically weaker draft. Usually though that is a result of great/good players going unrecognized like in 2013 with #10 McCollum, #12 Adams, #15 Giannis, #17 Schroeder, #24 THJ, #27 Gobert. Problem is that the draft is judged on the perceived top talent and that is usually judged correctly. In 2013 the top 7 were all poor, except Oladipo. 2027 much like 2024 is supposed to be weak at the top.

Furthermore I have to know whether Risacher is elite defensively, cause otherwise his only interesting number is #1 pick.

His draft profile is elite 3&D with high IQ who also excels in transition.  He is having a rough start to the season.  Seems like a potential buy low candidate.

[Nowitzki Way]

For Dallas they get a 25 year old who has some risk being a FA this summer.  But add him to the 22-27 aged players and you are starting to see a more balanced roster.  You can keep AD and Kyrie is no offer blows you away.   You realize you are thin at backup center which isn't a concern this year anyway.

Let me start by saying i like White and he's a much better fit for the roster. And a better fit long term with roster construction. But....

Now with Lively out and you trade Gaff, we are one inevitable AD injury from Powell starting 25 + games.  Thats fine if you are tanking. But if we're tanking why do we want White if he's restricted and no assurances we can re-sign him?

Seems like we'd do the trade just to get slighter younger this year (White is only 1.5 years younger than Gafford) and gamble that AD stays healthy.  

With or without this trade i think we need to look at a trade for a guy who can be better than Powell when this AD injury happens. Not if, but when.

[Chicagojk]

If I'm the Mavericks considering what I would like to see from the team in the next few months, I'm not sure that's the trade I need now. Things have changed in the last month, and maybe Kyrie is close to returning. So is Coby the new PG? For how long? Maybe he replaces Klay as the other guard, but Coby isn't shooting the 3 ball worth a crap now, so he doesn't answer our perimeter shooting problem. Nembhard and Williams look adequate for now at PG, and Nembie is probably a better PG than White overall. 

And if you're wanting to see the best version of the Mavericks soon, it wouldn't hurt to have Gafford coming off the bench if he's healthy. 

At this point in the season, I feel less attracted to White and slightly more protective of Gafford. That trade doesn't really do it for me anymore.

I don't have issue with what you are saying and I may actually agree with it.    

I don't view White as a point guard.  He is a scorer.   I would need to watch him more closely too.   I am not a big fan of the empty calorie scorers...especially as we are building around Flagg.  I think you need more well rounded players.  Not saying White isn't but I would need to get a better view.    I would actually view him as a combo with Max at the 2.  Although now with Marshall starting...I have no idea.

[Chicagojk]

Let me start by saying i like White and he's a much better fit for the roster. And a better fit long term with roster construction. But....

Now with Lively out and you trade Gaff, we are one inevitable AD injury from Powell starting 25 + games.  Thats fine if you are tanking. But if we're tanking why do we want White if he's restricted and no assurances we can re-sign him?

Seems like we'd do the trade just to get slighter younger this year (White is only 1.5 years younger than Gafford) and gamble that AD stays healthy.  

With or without this trade i think we need to look at a trade for a guy who can be better than Powell when this AD injury happens. Not if, but when.

That is a good point too.  Get Gaff healthy.  There will be plenty of minutes for him and then you can re-evaluate this summer.

[F Gump]

Now, if we can get Trae added for salary and we flip him in a 3 way for more picks.  I'm sold.  But it appears no one wants Trae.

ATL really wants to move Trae ... and no one wants him ... but would you take him in this trade? I might. I'm not sure..It barely gets me to the "minimum" value I would expect for AD, but I think it gets there. 

Upside: Trae is younger. His value might get better. (Kidd is really good with PG's.) He might create much-needed offense. The pick should add a young player to go with Flagg. The cap situation improves a bit (depending on where the picks would fall). Risacher might end up decent (although so far he's very iffy).

But many potential downside things to consider: Gotta swallow this season and one more of Trae's contract. The big men and defense become a potential weakness rather than strength, with AD gone and Young instead, Lively's health so iffy, and the desire to trade Gaff for Mathurin (I assume that would not happen, if AD was traded).

The trade:

AD - Hardy - Exum
FOR
Trae - Risacher - NO 2026 1st -might also need a 2nd

[Winter]

ATL really wants to move Trae ... and no one wants him ... but would you take him in this trade? I might. I'm not sure..It barely gets me to the "minimum" value I would expect for AD, but I think it gets there. 

Upside: Trae is younger. His value might get better. (Kidd is really good with PG's.) He might create much-needed offense. The pick should add a young player to go with Flagg. The cap situation improves a bit (depending on where the picks would fall). Risacher might end up decent (although so far he's very iffy).

But many potential downside things to consider: Gotta swallow this season and one more of Trae's contract. The big men and defense become a potential weakness rather than strength, with AD gone and Young instead, Lively's health so iffy, and the desire to trade Gaff for Mathurin (I assume that would not happen, if AD was traded).

The trade:

AD - Hardy - Exum
FOR
Trae - Risacher - NO 2026 1st -might also need a 2nd

And when Kyrie comes back? Trae's your backup? And Nembhart waits patiently for one of them to get hurt.

In some ways I don't actually mind that - even though that's got to be the smallest PG trio in the NBA. That trade is probably more of a concern at our center position.

[mvossman]

ATL really wants to move Trae ... and no one wants him ... but would you take him in this trade? I might. I'm not sure..It barely gets me to the "minimum" value I would expect for AD, but I think it gets there. 

Upside: Trae is younger. His value might get better. (Kidd is really good with PG's.) He might create much-needed offense. The pick should add a young player to go with Flagg. The cap situation improves a bit (depending on where the picks would fall). Risacher might end up decent (although so far he's very iffy).

But many potential downside things to consider: Gotta swallow this season and one more of Trae's contract. The big men and defense become a potential weakness rather than strength, with AD gone and Young instead, Lively's health so iffy, and the desire to trade Gaff for Mathurin (I assume that would not happen, if AD was traded).

The trade:

AD - Hardy - Exum
FOR
Trae - Risacher - NO 2026 1st -might also need a 2nd

That trade is a complete no brainer, which in my experience means its very unlikely.  I'm not convinced you couldn't turn Trae into something (expiring if nothing else but probably an asset as well) but even if I had to eat that contract for another year as well as go another year with a dysfunctional roster (Trae + Kyrie makes no sense) I still pull that trigger without thinking twice.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Furthermore I have to know whether Risacher is elite defensively, cause otherwise his only interesting number is #1 pick.

Watched a couple of their games recently.  Risacher reminds me of the forward version of Max Christie.  He can play solid D and has a good looking shot.  Outside of that, he provides very little playmaking/scoring skill or upside.

edit: mvossman nailed it. He's also super athletic in transition.

[Mavs2021]

That trade is a complete no brainer, which in my experience means its very unlikely.  I'm not convinced you couldn't turn Trae into something (expiring if nothing else but probably an asset as well) but even if I had to eat that contract for another year as well as go another year with a dysfunctional roster (Trae + Kyrie makes no sense) I still pull that trigger without thinking twice.

You can probably flip Trae Young to a few teams. My interest in PGs this year is mainly to flip them. There will be more intertwined stuff than ever before, but the Bucks decision to be guard buyers or Giannis sellers probably looms largest above everything.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

As a fan, it's difficult to know what is going on behind the scenes but after watching Marc Stein on Youtube talk about the AD trade market, I think the Mavs would be extremely lucky to get Risacher and a 1st rd pick. I think the NOLA 26 pick is a complete non starter and the Mavs would not insist on it.

Depending on what Kyrie's plans are long term, I would have some interest in Trae Young. Our 2026 draft pick is looking unlikely to land us a franchise PG, unless we get lucky in the lottery again. Trae Young is 27. Not a huge fan due to the defensive issues and ball hogging but he can play the hell out of the PG situation. We've already seen this year how important that is.

[mvossman]

As a fan, it's difficult to know what is going on behind the scenes but after watching Marc Stein on Youtube talk about the AD trade market,  I think the Mavs would be extremely lucky to get Risacher and a 1st rd pick.  I think the NOLA 26 pick is a complete non starter and the Mavs would not insist on it.

Depending on what Kyrie's plans are long term, I would have some interest in Trae Young.  Our 2026 draft pick is looking unlikely to land us a franchise PG, unless we get lucky in the lottery again.  Trae Young is 27.  Not a huge fan due to the defensive issues and ball hogging but he can play the hell out of the PG situation.  We've already seen this year how important that is.

I'm hoping another month of mostly injury free quality play from AD will up his value.  That coupled with continued KP health issues could definitely push up his value with Atlanta.  I doubt it will ever get to NOP pick value (maybe that changes if they string some wins together and crawl out of the bottom 5) but I think it will be more than some of the things we have seen recently.  Part of the uncertainty is how much they value Risacher.

If Trae is outgoing, I would greatly prefer to reroute him somewhere else.  I think somebody would be willing to give up an asset for him and I just don't see him as the right kind of piece for a contending roster.