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

[KillerLeft]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Cavs have contacted the Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Mavericks about Anthony Davis, per @WindhorstESPN

Cleveland is ACTIVE ?

(Via @ESPNCleveland )

Well, I suppose it's time for one last 48 hour period of fun hope before we find out the underwhelming realities that await. 

What would a CLE deal look like? I would love to add either Garland or Mitchell, obviously. Seems like Garland is the one they're shopping.

[Tyler]

What would a CLE deal look like? I would love to add either Garland or Mitchell, obviously. Seems like Garland is the one they're shopping.

The implication is that it's Garland for Harden and they want to add AD/Giannis on top of that. Looking at the salaries, it's almost certainly Mobley. Sounds wild that they'd trade Mobley for AD, but Dallas should be ALL OVER that if Cleveland is drunk.

[F Gump]

Harden always seems to wear out his welcome where ever he goes.

I don't think that has happened here.

FWIW I have never been a Harden fan at all. But ...

Harden has really played well this season, at about an All-Star level. But he's 36. And there are still unsettled issues re Kawhi's future. So I think it's a case of him being in demand, and LAC exploring if they can turn him into a younger star since he's getting up there in years, and they may have a rebuild forced on them soon. Harden reportedly loves playing in LA, which might be part of the equation too. EDITED TO ADD - But if he can't get job/contract security in LA, it looks like he isn't enamored of it anymore, so there's that.

Harden has no-trade control, but all he can really control is whether he is traded (he could simply say no) AND if he wants to do so in a way where his Bird rights continue but where he will not be a FA this summer (by exercising his PO before he is traded). If he stays with LAC via whatever scenario, Harden goes into June with a PO which lets him choose if he wants to be a FA in the summer with LAC having Bird rights, or to have another year contract on the books.

[Mavs2021]

Well, I suppose it's time for one last 48 hour period of fun hope before we find out the underwhelming realities that await. 

What would a CLE deal look like? I would love to add either Garland or Mitchell, obviously. Seems like Garland is the one they're shopping.

I assume we get Mobley + Ball, cause ain´t no way in h*ll, they send the Clippers Garland and Mavs get the leftovers in Allen, Strus and Ball.

[DanSchwartzgan]

The implication is that it's Garland for Harden and they want to add AD/Giannis on top of that. Looking at the salaries, it's almost certainly Mobley. Sounds wild that they'd trade Mobley for AD, but Dallas should be ALL OVER that if Cleveland is drunk.

I'd be shocked if Mobley is outgoing.  I think the presumption should be this is instead of Harden, not in addition to Harden.  The outgoing is probably Allen and Garland.  Making the money work isn't hard.  Working with the aggregation rules is more challenging.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

What does Cleveland want to do? Reshape whole team at TDL? 

Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are untouchable. Those are their two long term pillars of the franchise.

1. Garland is a bad fit with Mitchell. He is definitely getting moved eventually. They don't get along on or off the court. And Donovan Mitchell is running things in Cleveland.

2. Allen is a questionable fit with Mobley. There were also a lot of people mad in the organization when he didn't suit up in the playoffs because he had an injury. Whispers were that Cavs people thought he should've toughed it out.

The Cleveland "situation" has been brewing for a while.

[mvossman]

The implication is that it's Garland for Harden and they want to add AD/Giannis on top of that. Looking at the salaries, it's almost certainly Mobley. Sounds wild that they'd trade Mobley for AD, but Dallas should be ALL OVER that if Cleveland is drunk.

I can't imagine there is any chance of that.  Supposedly Allen is on the block as well.  Not sure what they are doing.

[Dirknows]

As much as this trade makes sense and as much as I want a full reset to build around Flagg, there is a part of me that does not want this team to get their 27 back so there is no chance I will be rooting for losses again.

Depends on what the plan is with AD. If they plan to keep him, he raises their floor to at least a play in team, if they dump him it could be much lower. It would be nice to have a pick in every draft, even an alleged “weaker” one.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

edit: repost

[omahen]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Cavs have contacted the Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Mavericks about Anthony Davis, per @WindhorstESPN

Cleveland is ACTIVE ?

(Via @ESPNCleveland )

I was just thinking if Cleveland is after Giannis. Not an easy path at all. First they would have to get under the second apron, which would require them clearing some 14 million from their payroll. Than they would need to have another at least 54.2 salaries going out for Giannis. They can get under the second apron either by trading Allen while receiving just a little bit of salary back or by dumping Strus (which would require assets). Other options are possible too like dumping Schroeder, or a combination of Lonzo and Wade. 

Cleveland only has 1 FRP to offer and their good young players (Mobley and Garland) are already on their second deals. One of them would need to be included in the Giannis deal. The rest depends on what they do to get under the second apron. They only have one tradeable FRP, but they could probably get one more for Allen. 

Is an offer of Garland (or Mobley), some expiring deals they would get from trading Allen (I assume Milwaukee doesn't see value in receiving Allen) and 2 FRP good enough of an offer to entice Milwaukee to trade them Giannis?

After everything is done, Cleveland would need to send out at least Garland (or Mobley), Allen and Strus. They would receive Giannis and some minor salaries from other deals.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/BillSimmons/status/2018712256901431745

Just idle speculation.  I do find it confusing a LA kid would ask out of LA or Clevelend just because they will give him a two year extension a year from now.   Sort of weird.   Although he would have a much better chance at an all star in the East.  Just think he would prefer other destinations.

[mvossman]

I'd be shocked if Mobley is outgoing.  I think the presumption should be this is instead of Harden, not in addition to Harden.  The outgoing is probably Allen and Garland.  Making the money work isn't hard.  Working with the aggregation rules is more challenging.

Garland and Allen would be quite a haul for AD.  Both are having down years (especially Garland) so maybe there is a chance?  Not an idea timeline fit, but Mavs are getting 5 years younger.  Have to move Gafford if you do something like this.

[mvossman]

Depends on what the plan is with AD. If they plan to keep him, he raises their floor to at least a play in team, if they dump him it could be much lower. It would be nice to have a pick in every draft, even an alleged “weaker” one.

I'm not sure AD raises the floor that much with his injury concerns.  He didn't keep this team from being lottery (likely) two years in a row.

[Chicagojk]

Just picturing the mavs warroom when the AD phone finally rings.   

[Chicagojk]

I haven't even seen the celebrity game.  What in the heck.   Who are most of these people?

https://x.com/SportsSturm/status/2018734737255461331

[Smitty]

@ChrisBHaynes
Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers have ramped up conversations on a James Harden, Darius Garland package with both sides motivated to executing a deal relatively soon, league sources tell me.

[Smitty]

   


Cavs can't aggregate, so it'd have to be separate deals:

Garland for Harden
Ball - Mann - Martin (3-team)
Wade for Nets TPE
Mobley+Strus for AD+Naji


Who says no?

[Chicagojk]

How fast things change....whenever AD is mentioned for a team, their fanbase is up in arms.  What a fall for a player who for his whole college and pro career has been desired.   Now, he is talked about as a has-been.  I get it.  It has been a tough year for him and team.   I do wonder how he responds to it.  -

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Cavs can't aggregate, so it'd have to be separate deals:

Garland for Harden
Ball - Mann - Martin (3-team)
Wade for Nets TPE
Mobley+Strus for AD+Naji


Who says no?

Mobley isn't getting moved for AD.  I doubt they'd even trade him for Giannis.

[Chicagojk]

Cavs can't aggregate, so it'd have to be separate deals:

Garland for Harden
Ball - Mann - Martin (3-team)
Wade for Nets TPE
Mobley+Strus for AD+Naji


Who says no?

I think Clev.