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

[Smitty]

Lively is also a bit of an issue, do we continue to bet on him developing when we can find center talent like Cisse without even using a pick?

I don't think Cisse is in the same ballpark with Lively talent wise. Same with Cisse and Gafford. Sure, he's been a bright spot this season and another hit for the Two-Way guys. I'd even be open to the idea of him being on the 15-man as a 3rd Center this year and next, but Lively is far superior to Cisse in level of play.

I absolutely share your concern that Lively is 'an issue' that will always have to be addressed with any team build. You can't just pencil him in as the starter. He doesn't and won't play starter minutes and he can't stay healthy, so you're always forced to have a very good "backup Big" and then a third to fill in as the backup for that Big. It's frustrating and I don't know what the answer is, other than see what happens next season and make a decision then.

[F Gump]

I keep coming back to this - these players are persistently landing on the "not playing" list:

AD and DAR
KP and Risacher

We are only 2 weeks (and a day) from the trade deadline.  I keep wondering if that foursome would be the already-agreed-upon player structure of a trade. Of course, it takes more. 

The payroll change in that 2-for-2 doesn't work for ATL (it lands them not only over the tax line but also over A1). The return imo is way too light for DAL too. Presumably the inclusion of the NO pick that the Mavs are clearly pushing for could make up the difference from there, but if ATL will NOT include the NO pick and insists on lesser-valued ones than the NO pick, then can they make up some of the difference in the players being swapped?

If Kennard is added, that makes the money work for ATL but it does nothing to fix the talent shortage to the Mavs.

The best solution from there that I can see is Okongwu, who would be the replacement in the lineup for AD. Very playable. Nowhere near the impact of AD, of course. But potentially useful. A bit different skill set than Gaff and Lively. 

As for what comes back to ATL and the match/payroll issues, Okongwu's 15M salary added would allow the Mavs to add 2 players, and Martin would need to be 1. The length of contracts is the same with OO, and ATL actually gets almost 6M per year in savings. Martin has shown himself lately to be playable, just not a supplier of offense, but sometimes a player who does NOT need shots is helpful if you have a team full of players who want the ball. 

That leaves room for Dallas to send another player up to about 7M in salary. I would prefer Hardy as that 2nd player, but there are other choices that could work, and that leaves wiggle room to adjust the deal a bit one way or the other in filling out the end of the deal. I'll leave that as a fill-in-the-blank.

But to me, maybe that gets enough value to DAL that they can get there by a compromise on the NO pick. (There are multiple ways to compromise on the pick compensation and still get a reasonably strong package of picks. I'll leave that as a fill-in-the-blank also, with the idea that if not via the NO pick, then the Mavs need to see an avenue to getting a really good player out of whatever picks.)

AD, Martin, DAR, ______
KP, Okongwu, Risacher, Kennard + picks

[Smitty]

AD, Martin, DAR, ______
KP, Okongwu, Risacher, Kennard + picks

I'd be willing to do that deal with no pick. You mentioned Hardy as the fill in the blank. That's (3) negative value players/contracts attached to AD. The biggest issue I see is what it means for the Hawks. Davis would be the only Big on their roster with this move. Day to Day Davis... Maybe that fill in the blank player has to be Powell? Or it's up to the Hawks to make an additional move to address that hole at C.

[Chicagojk]

I am all for getting value back, but man this is messy.  Will be interesting to see if at the end of this mess, if GS gets anything of value back.   Seems like a waste of time or all parties.

https://x.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/2013807606133846288

[F Gump]

I'd be willing to do that deal with no pick. You mentioned Hardy as the fill in the blank. That's (3) negative value players/contracts attached to AD. The biggest issue I see is what it means for the Hawks. Davis would be the only Big on their roster with this move. Day to Day Davis... Maybe that fill in the blank player has to be Powell? Or it's up to the Hawks to make an additional move to address that hole at C.

"I'd be willing to do that deal with no pick." -- From a payroll standpoint, it's great. But I think the Mavs are looking for a "very high potential" player (or the possibility thereof) as part of the deal, and imo neither Risacher or OO is on that level. If the NO pick isn't going to be included to satisfy that, something else needs to. 
 
In any event, it does feel to me like the players (and the payroll they carry) in that 4-for-4 are in the right ballpark as is or something close to it, with a financial result that should be good for them. 

Powell instead of Hardy? Sure, for me it wouldn't be a deal-killer to do that fill in the blank.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I keep coming back to this - these players are persistently landing on the "not playing" list:

AD and DAR
KP and Risacher

We are only 2 weeks (and a day) from the trade deadline.  I keep wondering if that foursome would be the already-agreed-upon player structure of a trade. Of course, it takes more. 
 

I believe the following is barely a legal trade match.  Both teams would be under the first apron and would have to do additional work to get out of the tax.  Dallas would also have to do additional work to get a slot to get Nembhard a standard contract:

AD, D'Lo, BWill
for
KP, Risacher, Newell and Krejci

[F Gump]

I believe the following is barely a legal trade match.  Both teams would be under the first apron and would have to do additional work to get out of the tax.  Dallas would also have to do additional work to get a slot to get Nembhard a standard contract:

AD, D'Lo, BWill
for
KP, Risacher, Newell and Krejci

Yeah, while I would take Newell and Krejci (and think they carry some modest value), I just don't think ATL will do a deal that ends with them paying tax. The small salary players from ATL don't carry real salary-match utility since each of those that's added then needs a DAL player sent back to ATL. You probably have to do a 3-for-3 or larger to get that tax issue resolved with equal numbers of players going each way, before then adding any small salary ATL players for offsetting ones from DAL.

For example, take the 4-for-4 mentioned previously with Hardy in the undesignated blank. That satisfies the salary match and has even bodies. Then maybe your add-on is
Newell, Krejci FOR
Powell, Williams, Cisse (addressing ATL need for a C)

[mvossman]

Could not agree more! Flagg's ball-handling gets better each week. His 3PT shot will come around. A lot of the great ones struggled from distance their rookie year. 

Lebron 29%, Luka 32%, Durant 28%. 

Those 3 are the ones Flagg closely resemble with his offensive numbers' rookie year vs. rookie year. All of which are 'big Wing' types. I'm not comparing playstyles, only production.

Saying Flagg is "only X" is the wrong way to go IMO.

I'm sure Flagg will get better with ball handling and shooting as he develops, but his most elite talent is clearly dominating in the paint.  I think its reasonable to want to build around his strengths.  This team is already light on shooting/spacing and heavy on guys that like to operate closer to the basket.  I can't imagine how good Flagg could be if he had a little more space to work.

[Smitty]

I'm sure Flagg will get better with ball handling and shooting as he develops, but his most elite talent is clearly dominating in the paint.  I think its reasonable to want to build around his strengths.  This team is already light on shooting/spacing and heavy on guys that like to operate closer to the basket.  I can't imagine how good Flagg could be if he had a little more space to work.

I don't disagree necessarily, but what he is today is not what I think he'll be in Year 2, Year 3, etc.  It takes some projection, like it does with any 19 year old.

[Smitty]

@All_Things_Mavs
Tim MacMahon says the possibility of the Toronto Raptors trading for Anthony Davis is still "open ended."

He adds that it would likely have to be more than a two-team trade because Dallas wants to shed salary and regain flexibility.

[Smitty]

@esidery
The Clippers are open to moving Bogdan Bogdanovic for an impact rotational upgrade.

Bogdanovic is on a $16 million expiring contract, which includes a team option for 2026-27.

Los Angeles aims to be buyers at the deadline to continue salvaging their slow start to the season.

[mvossman]

@All_Things_Mavs
Tim MacMahon says the possibility of the Toronto Raptors trading for Anthony Davis is still "open ended."

He adds that it would likely have to be more than a two-team trade because Dallas wants to shed salary and regain flexibility.

"Flexibility" might translate to Dumont does not want to pay a huge tax bill.

[F Gump]

"Flexibility" might translate to Dumont does not want to pay a huge tax bill.

If it's me (with PD's money), financially I am satisfied with getting a no-tax season EITHER this season or next, in order to get a reset on the repeater status. But I'm picky about "at what price" (in talent/assets) that's accomplished.

[Smitty]

"Flexibility" might translate to Dumont does not want to pay a huge tax bill.

He read my post yesterday. My bad!

[KillerLeft]

I'm sure Flagg will get better with ball handling and shooting as he develops, but his most elite talent is clearly dominating in the paint.  I think its reasonable to want to build around his strengths.  This team is already light on shooting/spacing and heavy on guys that like to operate closer to the basket.  I can't imagine how good Flagg could be if he had a little more space to work.

[mvossman]

If it's me (with PD's money), financially I am satisfied with getting a no-tax season EITHER this season or next, in order to get a reset on the repeater status. But I'm picky about "at what price" (in talent/assets) that's accomplished.

Agreed, and I think it will cheaper in assets to do it for this season as there seems to be a lot of expiring contract available on the market, but not a lot of teams with a ton of cap space in the offseason.  The number to get there is also smaller for this season than next (especially if we hit it big in the lottery).

[F Gump]

Agreed, and [1] I think it will cheaper in assets to do it for this season as there seems to be a lot of expiring contract available on the market, but [2] not a lot of teams with a ton of cap space in the offseason.  The number to get there is also smaller for this season than next (especially if we hit it big in the lottery).

Yes the amount of ground to cover is smaller this season. But it's about 17M now, so still a fairly big leap (for example, some team takes ALL 3 of Martin, Hardy, and Exum and sends back no one). 

But I don't follow your other points, and wonder if they aren't backwards.
1 Don't expiring contracts help NEXT season not this one? For example, you could trade for KP (or McCollum) and that 30M is still on the payroll this season, but gone next year if you just let him walk. 
2 Isn't there much more cap room in the summer than right now, before rosters are filled and cap room is spent? A team can also take a player using their MLE etc.
3 I also wonder if the roster limits right now make it harder to find a taker in a salary dump (or 3).

[mvossman]

Yes the amount of ground to cover is smaller this season. But it's about 17M now, so still a fairly big leap (for example, some team takes ALL 3 of Martin, Hardy, and Exum and sends back no one). 

But I don't follow your other points, and wonder if they aren't backwards.
1 Don't expiring contracts help NEXT season not this one? For example, you could trade for KP (or McCollum) and that 30M is still on the payroll this season, but gone next year if you just let him walk. 
2 Isn't there much more cap room in the summer than right now, before rosters are filled and cap room is spent? A team can also take a player using their MLE etc.
3 I also wonder if the roster limits right now make it harder to find a taker in a salary dump (or 3).

Crap, that was a total brainfart.  It will be very hard to get below the number for this year.  I do think it will be easier to clear cap for next season this TDL as opposed to in the offseason.  Depending on TDL options, they may have to attack from both angles (clear some at TDL and finish in offseason).

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

"Flexibility" might translate to Dumont does not want to pay a huge tax bill.

I appreciate Dumont might not want to pay the Luxury Tax, but as a fan, I don't give a f--- about his "wants". His lack of due diligence caused the Mavs to lose a ton of team equity. PD should have to pay whatever "Luka Tax" is necessary to balance out the piss poor trade return. Now, assuming the trade difference to get out of the LT and repeater penalties is negligible, then cool.  But right now Dumont is still in the hole with the team and fan base.

[Smitty]

@GrantAfseth

@suntimes_sports confirms @DALHoopsJournal reporting that the Chicago Bulls recently discussed a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans focused on second-year center Yves Missi.