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

[Mavs2021]

Gafford and Marshall should both secure a late 1st round pick. Nothing is more valuable, under these new cap circumstances, to a contender than a high-end rotational starter on a value contract.

Gafford would sort the Celtics C position long-term on a cost controlled deal.

Gafford + DAR/Hardy for Simons + Boston 2026 1st

Gafford for Kuminga + GS 2026 1st

would be the price I set.

[Dirknows]

I think they'd want more than lottery protection in this draft. And if it doesn't convey immediately they wouldn't be able to trade the 27/28 picks either. To me it's a pretty big commitment for a role player.

A lot of the teams mentioned things would have to go terribly wrong for them to end up in the lottery.

[Smitty]

BOS: Simons (expiring), Tillman, '26 SRP via NOP (currently #32), '27 FRP FOR Gafford, Klay  Note: BOS would need to send a minimum guy like Boucher + Cash to Nets or other

You could simplify things by adding Klay which would match Simons and free up a roster spot for Nemby and a lot of money off the books for next year.  The question is how those picks get valued when adding Klay and his money.

Yeah, I posted the potential Boston deal this morning. At least a version that makes some sense to me. More than one way to do any of the deals I went through and posted though. The problem with doing deals with contenders is that most are Apron teams, like the Mavs, and neither can take back more than 100% salary. I tried not to get into a lot of 3-team trades and kept it simple.

[Chicagojk]

I was listening to the Zach Lowe podcast from after Christmas and he talked Mavs at the end of the podcast.  This was the groin injury AD injury before the finger injury.   He thought Dallas should just stay put and let things play out.  He said if AD was out for a month (this was before we learned it was just a day to day injury), that no one was going to trade for AD if injured again.   He also thought the offers for AD would be pretty meh even before his latest injury.    

   Mavs were on a 7-5 run.  He said AD and Cooper have something building between them.   He acknowledged that this was the last pick we have control of for 5 years, but said we are not going to out lose to "awful" teams for the better draft odds.   It was only a few weeks ago, but it feels like a year ago.

[Chicagojk]

I think this is going to be a pretty fun trade deadline.   Between good teams trying to for it, desperate teams trying to make a spark, a tone of East teams seeing the east wide open, there feels like there could be a lot of movement this trade deadline.

[Mavs2021]

Here are some simple deals

Kuminga for Thompson + Hardy

Conley + Ingles + Wolves 2026 1st round pick  for Marshall + DAR

You need at least minimum salary from Minnesota going to Dallas, so both stay under the 2nd apron. If you have any strong feelings about Joan Beringer, you could also replace Ingles + 1st round pick with him.


Gafford + Exum for Kennard + Cavs 2026 1st round pick

2026/2027

Davis
Irving
Kuminga
Washington
Flagg
Martin
Christie
Lively
Nembhard
Mavs pick
Cavs pick
Wolves pick

With Kuminga roughly 15M under the 1st apron / 28M under the 2nd apron with three open roster spots

Without Kuminga roughly 37.5M under the 1st apron / 50.5M under the 2nd apron with four open roster spots

I think all these deals are fair and realistic. We lose a lot of depth, but gain two 1st round picks and very good flexibility going forward.

[mvossman]

Here are some simple deals

Kuminga for Thompson + Hardy

Does Thompson want to go back to GS?

[omahen]

Here are some simple deals

Kuminga for Thompson + Hardy

Conley + Ingles + Wolves 2026 1st round pick  for Marshall + DAR

You need at least minimum salary from Minnesota going to Dallas, so both stay under the 2nd apron. If you have any strong feelings about Joan Beringer, you could also replace Ingles + 1st round pick with him.


Gafford + Exum for Kennard + Cavs 2026 1st round pick

2026/2027

Davis
Irving
Kuminga
Washington
Flagg
Martin
Christie
Lively
Nembhard
Mavs pick
Cavs pick
Wolves pick

With Kuminga roughly 15M under the 1st apron / 28M under the 2nd apron with three open roster spots

Without Kuminga roughly 37.5M under the 1st apron / 50.5M under the 2nd apron with four open roster spots

I think all these deals are fair and realistic. We lose a lot of depth, but gain two 1st round picks and very good flexibility going forward.

Minny can't trade their 2026 pick (they don't have a pick in 2027).

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Golden State should go get MPJ.

Thompson doesnt move the needle for them.

[Mavs2021]

Golden State should go get MPJ.

Thompson doesnt move the needle for them.

Don´t disagree, but it seems they kind of made the decision to not trade any future 1st round picks for the post Steph/Draymond/Butler era. If that is their final  decision, then bringing back beloved Klay for Kuminga seems a choice you can sell to the fans.

[DallasMaverick]

Golden State should go get MPJ.

They clearly place zero to negative value on Kuminga.

His playing time has dropped almost completely.

Rival GM’s also understand that he wants to be paid like a Tier 1 player.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

It hurts my soul to see Steph put up 40points at his age and lose.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Iko] There is an increasing belief among rival executives that Jaren Jackson Jr. could be traded following the finalization of a Ja Morant deal.

[Mavs2021]

[Iko] There is an increasing belief among rival executives that Jaren Jackson Jr. could be traded following the finalization of a Ja Morant deal.

They already selling ticket packages for five dollars and intend to trade their two best players. Don´t play with the feelings of SuperSonics fans like that.

[Smitty]

Rich Paul on the Pros and Cons of the Mavericks after Anthony Davis gets injured during trade talks ?

“I do think when you have that trade speculation out there you have to make your mind up because sometimes when you play in traffic you get hit by a car. If you plan on trading somebody, there’s a time. It’s almost a gamesmanship to it. Your trying to go a little longer, a little longer and see the most you can get out of somebody. When you do that you run a risk — There is a world you come out of this draft with a great pick, that the following year and saying ‘wait a minute, we got these two young guys on rookie contracts that are good, you have Kyrie and AD, two top 15 players… it’s not totally negative”

(Via Game Over podcast)

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Rich Paul on the Pros and Cons of the Mavericks after Anthony Davis gets injured during trade talks ?

“I do think when you have that trade speculation out there you have to make your mind up because sometimes when you play in traffic you get hit by a car. If you plan on trading somebody, there’s a time. It’s almost a gamesmanship to it. Your trying to go a little longer, a little longer and see the most you can get out of somebody.

When I read this, I'm thinking that tweet he liked about Asa Newell and the 2029 1st rd pick was the real Atlanta offer.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Rich Paul] says the Lakers should trade Austin Reaves for Jaren Jackson Jr. (video in link)

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1q...de_austin/

[Smitty]

When I read this, I'm thinking that tweet he liked about Asa Newell and the 2029 1st rd pick was the real Atlanta offer.

Stein said there was never an offer from Atlanta. What tweet?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Stein said there was never an offer from Atlanta. What tweet?

This was on 12/29.

[Dirknows]

This was on 12/29.

That's a theoretical trade from an Instagram story, Stein said no real offer was made, but they had been talking. I'm sure it was going to come closer to deadline day.