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

[F Gump]

@ShamsCharania
Trae Young has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta is working to move Young, who has a $49 million player option in offseason that would make him an expiring contract; or opt out, leave and give Hawks significant cap space.

@BrettSiegelNBA
Trae Young and his camp are essentially telling the Hawks to get this done as soon as possible.

Both Young and McCollum have been ruled out with quad injuries for their respective games tonight.

"Quad injuries." Yeah right. There's a sizable likelihood they are being put in bubble wrap until a deal is finalized.

[mvossman]

So i was right... Again.

I told you guys, a lot of teams want street clothes... Just keep calm and see this bidding war.

Popcorn.

I mean, a lot of teams are interested.  That doesn't mean they are willing to pay significant assets, and most of the teams mentioned don't really have an avenue to do so.  Toronto does not have the expiring contract necessary.  They would have to send bad contracts that are still key parts of their rotation.  There has been no hint that they are interested in sending the draft capital necessary to make that worth while for Dallas.  The Warriors would have to send Green or Butler, which they don't want to do and Mavs don't want.  I don't think the Bucks have an way to get something like that done.  Right now Atlanta is the only team that makes sense, especially if they dump Trae for expliring.

[mvossman]

I like Coby White.  But I'm also not looking at every potential move in terms of championship potential.  I have no desire to turn the TV on and watch the Mavs right now.  How bout we get a competent team first?  Then a team that is winning 50 games every year.  Then we can thinking about Championship moves.

You can move Coby White later if it comes to that.  Just like you need to move PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford.

Coby White is a UFA after this season.  There is no moving him later.  Either they agree to a contract or he was a waste of Gafford trade value.  I get the frustration with rooting for a crappy team, but that actually has value at the moment.  The absolute worst scenario is that he plays well for half a season and worsens the draft pick, and the walks for nothing.  That would almost be negative value.  Of course Mathurin will be looking for a new contract as well, but he will be an RFA and hasn't floated around that he wants 30 mil either.

[DanSchwartzgan]

@ShamsCharania
Trae Young has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta is working to move Young, who has a $49 million player option in offseason that would make him an expiring contract; or opt out, leave and give Hawks significant cap space.

@BrettSiegelNBA
Trae Young and his camp are essentially telling the Hawks to get this done as soon as possible.

Both Young and McCollum have been ruled out with quad injuries for their respective games tonight.

I'm interested to see the extra salary Washington attaches.  Bobby Marks suggested Cam Whitmore and AJ Johnson.  Atlanta can take a 3 for 2, but not a 3 for 1 without other things happening.  As we've established, the only reason to tie this deal to an AD to Atlanta deal is aggregation.  But, from everything I've read, CJ stays in Atlanta if this goes down and KP is the expiring money that would come to Dallas in an AD trade.  So, no aggregation issues (at least with the bigger salaries involved).

FWIW, I've seen two places that have suggested Dallas would give up its 2031 pick and Christie with AD to unlock the 2026 NOP pick with Risacher and KP. Such a construct, if that is all it involved, gets Dallas $1.0mm under the tax line. Personally, I'd rather keep Christie and send Naji. I really like Christie, but I'm not sure I let him stand in the way of getting the NOP pick unprotected.

[Jmaciscool]

@ShamsCharania
Trae Young has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta is working to move Young, who has a $49 million player option in offseason that would make him an expiring contract; or opt out, leave and give Hawks significant cap space.

@BrettSiegelNBA
Trae Young and his camp are essentially telling the Hawks to get this done as soon as possible.

Both Young and McCollum have been ruled out with quad injuries for their respective games tonight.

I'm just happy for Wizards fans that they finally get to see Shams reporting that an NBA player has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred destination.

[soog]

@ShamsCharania
Trae Young has the Washington Wizards as his top preferred trade destination, sources tell ESPN. Atlanta is working to move Young, who has a $49 million player option in offseason that would make him an expiring contract; or opt out, leave and give Hawks significant cap space.

@BrettSiegelNBA
Trae Young and his camp are essentially telling the Hawks to get this done as soon as possible.

Both Young and McCollum have been ruled out with quad injuries for their respective games tonight.

And ADs reps telling the Mavs to be more aggressive. I hope we see AD rested with a “quad injury” in the next game and a 3-team deal materialize here soon!

[Mavs2021]

In other words, that's who his agents have discovered will play ball on his next contract, WAS, which is one of the few teams desperate enough to do that. Makes sense.

Don´t think it´s that. It´s the connection he has with their front office and the opportunity to get out of his toxic situation in Atlanta. For better or worse, he can be himself again without facing much backlash for his defense, because there won´t be any expectations for the next 18 months. Sure the chances to be extended on a good contract are better on a team like Washington, but this is also a "pressure free, #1 option, have fun"- situation to showcase himself. It´s a win-win situation for him and Washington.

Plus if this goes through it will accelerate some moves, since ATL now has capspace and one PG piece is off the market. 

My feeling is that the Mavs will get involved in a deal that sends Risacher and Kuminga to Dallas with one pick each, AD to Atlanta and Klay/Gafford to GS. That deal can´t be completed till Jan 15th anyway.

[cow]

Don´t think it´s that. It´s the connection he has with their front office and the opportunity to get out of his toxic situation in Atlanta. For better or worse, he can be himself again without facing much backlash for his defense, because there won´t be any expectations for the next 18 months. Sure the chances to be extended on a good contract are better on a team like Washington, but this is also a "pressure free, #1 option, have fun"- situation to showcase himself. It´s a win-win situation for him and Washington.

A win-win situation that will result in very few wins.

[michaeltex]

Speaking of wins...

I have to applaud the tank job Carlisle is leading in IND. 13 losses in a row now and currently the worst record. From a team that went to the ECF last summer.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Coby White is a UFA after this season.  There is no moving him later.  Either they agree to a contract or he was a waste of Gafford trade value.  I

Let me put it this way.

I'd rather have Coby White on this team at $22 million a year than Daniel Gafford at $18. (I have no idea what it would take. That's the front office's job to be plugged in.)

[KillerLeft]

Let me put it this way.

I'd rather have Coby White on this team at $22 million a year than Daniel Gafford at $18.  (I have no idea what it would take.  That's the front office's job to be plugged in.)

Agreed. And really, all you have to do is avoid paying White (or anyone) more than they'll be worth a couple of years down the road. How someone fits on a team changes quickly, as we've seen, but good players are good players. Some people don't think Coby White is a good player, and that opinion is valid. I just don't share it, personally. There is definitely a number that's too high for him, sure, but I don't see a lot of guys bolting to cap space teams these days, so it kind of seems like the Mavs just need to start negotiating a bit better at these contract points.

[Mavs2021]

I'm interested to see the extra salary Washington attaches.  Bobby Marks suggested Cam Whitmore and AJ Johnson.  Atlanta can take a 3 for 2, but not a 3 for 1 without other things happening.  As we've established, the only reason to tie this deal to an AD to Atlanta deal is aggregation.  But, from everything I've read, CJ stays in Atlanta if this goes down and KP is the expiring money that would come to Dallas in an AD trade.  So, no aggregation issues (at least with the bigger salaries involved).

FWIW, I've seen two places that have suggested Dallas would give up its 2031 pick and Christie with AD to unlock the 2026 NOP pick with Risacher and KP.  Such a construct, if that is all it involved, gets Dallas $1.0mm under the tax line.  Personally, I'd rather keep Christie and send Naji.  I really like Christie, but I'm not sure I let him stand in the way of getting the NOP pick unprotected.

Agreed. They can have Christie, if we get a 42% and a 36% chance to land top 4 picks. 

We could genuinely run out 

Kyrie
Peterson
Dybantsa
Flagg 
Lively

Haha. What a pipedream. 

[Nowitzki Way]

FWIW, I've seen two places that have suggested Dallas would give up its 2031 pick and Christie with AD to unlock the 2026 NOP pick with Risacher and KP.  Such a construct, if that is all it involved, gets Dallas $1.0mm under the tax line.  Personally, I'd rather keep Christie and send Naji.  I really like Christie, but I'm not sure I let him stand in the way of getting the NOP pick unprotected.

So many things to consider with Christie involved.  For one, he has a player option after next year.   If he keeps ascending, do the Mavs want to pay him big money? 

He's 22 (23 in February), so what his ceiling?  I don't think anyone can see a future all star level player, but he's just a really really good role player that any team would love to have.   Those players are valuable.  

I just see that as a lopsided trade that benefits the Haws a little more. We're trading our entire Luka trade return for a dice roll with the NOP pick. KP is salary filer.  So we're giving up AD for the NOP pick and Christie/2031 1st rounder for Risacher.   Thats a no go. I believe that first rounder is going the wrong way.  Take that 31 1st out, and it might be getting closer to even.

[Dirknows]

So many things to consider with Christie involved.  For one, he has a player option after next year.   If he keeps ascending, do the Mavs want to pay him big money? 

He's 22 (23 in February), so what his ceiling?  I don't think anyone can see a future all star level player, but he's just a really really good role player that any team would love to have.   Those players are valuable.  

I just see that as a lopsided trade that benefits the Haws a little more. We're trading our entire Luka trade return for a dice roll with the NOP pick. KP is salary filer.  So we're giving up AD for the NOP pick and Christie/2031 1st rounder for Risacher.   Thats a no go. I believe that first rounder is going the wrong way.  Take that 31 1st out, and it might be getting closer to even.

Yeah, I don’t like the idea of sending out more future firsts than we already have, all for the pick to fall to 7.

[Mavs2021]

Yeah, I don’t like the idea of sending out more future firsts than we already have, all for the pick to fall to 7.

For a 42% and at least a 26% chance to put three generational talents on the level of Durant/Harden/Westbrook + Ibaka/Lively on the same court at age 20. This could be the next NBA dynasty born out of ashes. Pelicans has an 80% right now to be top 5 excluding that Mavs are one of the teams that can jump it. Our pick has a 93% chance to be top 9 just by dropping below Clippers. And there are more teams within reach. 87% top 8, if we fall behind Charlotte.

If it´s just Christie and a future first, you absolutely do it. I doubt ATL is that crazy. Only way, I´d trade that pick as Atlanta, is for Flagg.

[Nowitzki Way]

Yeah, I don’t like the idea of sending out more future firsts than we already have, all for the pick to fall to 7.

Exactly. New Orleans has no incentive to tank. They may be a bad team, but they have 8 wins.  Seven other teams have anywhere from 8 to 14 wins (including the Mavs).  That pick could land top 3 and we're guaranteed another superstar.  But it could land at 7 as you stated and then what?

Those odds arent good enough to give up solely for AD.  

Several things appear likely but not certain.  

Trae traded to Washington for expiring. That frees them up to trade for another big salary, probably AD. 

Rich Paul is looking for an extension and doesn't see one in Dallas. Pushing for a trade to a team wanting to extend. Sooner rather than later.

AD traded to Atlanta for something.  KP going to Dallas for salary.  

Atlanta wont trade NOP pick AND Risacher. So its one or the other.

If Dallas wants the NOP pick they will need to add pieces such as Max or Naji and other pick(s)

Dallas will want to add D-Lo, Hardy, Martin, maybe Exum into the deal. 


My 2 cents.  Deadlines make deals. We'll see who caves first.  But ultimately my guess is Dallas will be too hesitant to include the extra pieces to pry that NOP pick. Atlanta wont want a bad salary such as Martin. May settle for Hardy or D-Lo
This trade will happen in simple terms.

AD, D-Lo to Atlanta

KP, Kennard, Risacher, Cle 26 pick to Dallas

[Winter]

Atlanta had made such a big deal about not giving it up, that i can't imagine it.

[mvossman]

My feeling is that the Mavs will get involved in a deal that sends Risacher and Kuminga to Dallas with one pick each, AD to Atlanta and Klay/Gafford to GS. That deal can´t be completed till Jan 15th anyway.

You think GS will give up Kuminga and a first for Klay/Gafford?  Not sure Klay or GS wants a reunion.  Kuminga would be last on my list of targets for Gafford.

[cow]

So many things to consider with Christie involved.  For one, he has a player option after next year.   If he keeps ascending, do the Mavs want to pay him big money? 

He's 22 (23 in February), so what his ceiling?  I don't think anyone can see a future all star level player, but he's just a really really good role player that any team would love to have.   Those players are valuable.  

I just see that as a lopsided trade that benefits the Haws a little more. We're trading our entire Luka trade return for a dice roll with the NOP pick. KP is salary filer.  So we're giving up AD for the NOP pick and Christie/2031 1st rounder for Risacher.   Thats a no go. I believe that first rounder is going the wrong way.  Take that 31 1st out, and it might be getting closer to even.

Sums up my feelings pretty well.  I say that as someone who doesn't mind sending Christie out and who has no feel for who Risacher is as a player.

[Smitty]

Stein is on a heater on Twitter:

UPDATE: League sources tell @TheSteinLine that the Hawks have interest in the Wizards’ Corey Kispert and — if a Trae Young-to-Washington trade materializes — Atlanta hopes to have Kispert in the deal.

The specific draft compensation that would be added to the trade construction is not yet known, but it’s increasingly believed CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert would be the primary outgoing Wizards if a Trae Young-to-Washington deal reaches completion.

The Wizards have now made Corey Kispert (left hamstring injury management) unavailable for tonight’s game at Philadelphia. CJ McCollum was ruled out earlier today.