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

[Chicagojk]

Atlanta is imho very nicely set for the long-term. They have excellent young wing core in Daniels, Risacher and Johnson. All locked on long-term decent deals. They will have a likely very high pick in 2026, 30+ mil of cap space and a bunch of picks to trade. They could be very dangerous in a season or two.

I was thinking earlier about Atlanta.   I am sure they hope Kuminga improves his value some and helps on the court.  Although, GS found that there wasn't much interest.    By trading an expiring in KP for Kuminga they have extended that slot a bit.   Kuminga can either be free this summer or next.  So he is at least a chip in case they target a higher priced guy.    Kuminga may be viewed more of an expiring, but as a guy who is still young with some upside.   The league has already told us what they think of him though.   Atlanta at least pushed the KP contract out a year if they wish.

[Chicagojk]

I guess the Wizards didn't get the memo.

I really don't have an issue with what Washington did.  That could change if they overpay in extensions for either though.

Washington hasn't been an NBA caliber team in a long time.  They finally have a semblance of a plan.  They have 3-4 young players who have a chance to be players on a good team.   I don't believe any of them are a star though.  Maybe they find a star in the draft this year.    Young and Davis at least give them players who should help.  In various degrees and health will be a factor.   If this can help push their youngsters forward and let them play in meaningful games and not glorified practice runs each night, that is a positive imo.   

If it doesn't work out, that is fine.   Eventually they move on.  The only negative is if they give both bigger than expected extensions and it clogs up their cap when their youngsters come up for extensions.

[Smitty]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent guard Jevon Carter has agreed to a deal with the Orlando Magic for the rest of the season, Mark Bartelstein and Reggie Brown of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Carter, who shot 41% from 3 with the Bulls, gives guard depth to Orlando.

[Smitty]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte – before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves.

[Mavs2021]

I guess the Wizards didn't get the memo.

They also didn´t get the 1980 memo that 50 wins seasons are not banned. That´s where the desperation comes from. I think AD will only hurt Sarr´s development. They should be a young fast paced team behind Young. Instead AD will occasionally lumber across the court and hinder the development of Sarr.
It´s the exact same problem the Mavs faced with AD and Flagg. He´s an old lazy halfcourt player. We need athletic runners.

[Mavs2021]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent guard Mike Conley Jr. plans to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. The sides are working on timing of him re-signing. Conley was traded twice this week – to Chicago, then to Charlotte – before being released and allowed to rejoin the Wolves.

LMAO. Wolves are tampering again.   100% they planned out this whole sequence including the re-trade/buyout so they can get re-sign Conley.

[david75090]

LMAO. Wolves are tampering again.   100% they planned out this whole sequence including the re-trade/buyout so they can get re-sign Conley.

It's helpful to be smarter than everyone else.

[F Gump]

Its riskier for them to do that, because if any of the 5-14 teams move up, they move down. In fact, its more likely they lose the pick if they go for a top 1-4 (52%) vs. going for 10. 

10 is guaranteed safe (100%) with small upside (14% at top 4). vs. if they tank for 1-4, they have a 52% chance at keeping the pick at all. 

Obviously this is really simple math and in actuality the percentages are a little bit different. But the sentiment is the same. They should flat out try and win games now and give up the unprotected pick in 2031. Mostly because if they keep this lotto pick, they have a very good core still with Hali+Siakam+Lotto pick+Nembhard+Zubac. That unprotected pick may be in the mid teens at the worst.

I don't think Indy can get to slot 10, even if they want to. Slot 7 or 8 is probably workable, and maybe even 9, but not 10.

They are 13-38 and tied for 2nd fewest wins. They have 31 games left. The teams in that range are going to continue to win SOME games, so Indy would be trying to catch what is far ahead and still going. Right now teams in the 10-11-12 range are playing at a .450 pace, which will land them at about 37 wins and perhaps a play-in spot. 

To get to 37 by the end of the season, Indy would have to go about 24-7 from here. I don't think they can do that even if they wanted to. That is a BETTER winning pace than any NBA team this season, even OKC and DET.

To get to slot 8-9 they would have to win 33. That has them going 20-11 from here which is the same level as BOS or NY has played. I don't think they can be that good either. 

Now what?

If it was me, I'm still tanking, and doing it even harder than before. There are no guarantees, but the odds of landing a top 4 pick are way better if I start around 1 or 2 than if I start in the 6-7-8 range.

[Smitty]

The Bulls and Hornets amended the Coby White trade after a physical showed White had a left calf injury and would have to miss time, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA. Hornets are now sending two second-rounders (2031 NYK, 2031 DEN) to Chicago instead of three.

[DanSchwartzgan]

If it was me, I'm still tanking, and doing it even harder than before. There are no guarantees, but the odds of landing a top 4 pick are way better if I start around 1 or 2 than if I start in the 6-7-8 range.

My read also.  I’ve seen speculation that Indy would try to start winning to preserve the pick.  I think two unprotected picks was the price of getting Zubac and Indy was able to negotiate 1-4 protections.  LA put the 9-30 part in so they don’t get stuck with a mid first as they get an unprotected 31 pick from Indy if the 2026 doesn’t convey.

[RGP1981]

If the Pacers don't get a Top 4 pick in the 2026 draft, I think they will have shot themselves in the foot with the Zubac deal. They should have protected it for selections #1-10.

I don't know if they tried for Nic Claxton but he should have been a better get with what they gave up, for his mobility on defense. Having Claxton at Center would give them the option of using an SF with more offense than Nesmith.

[KillerLeft]

This is probably more for the NBA Trade: 26-27 thread that's coming over the summer, but if the Mavs don't end up with a PG in this draft, I plan on dreaming up ways of attacking the idiots who run Chicago. They added 8 players at the deadline, and most of them are guards. The have soooooo many guards now they can't even play all the ones they want to get a look at.

Ivey?
Giddey?
Dillingham?
Tre Jones?

So many others. Take your pick and they're probably gettable.

[cow]

This is probably more for the NBA Trade: 26-27 thread that's coming over the summer, but if the Mavs don't end up with a PG in this draft, I plan on dreaming up ways of attacking the idiots who run Chicago. They added 8 players at the deadline, and most of them are guards. The have soooooo many guards now they can't even play all the ones they want to get a look at.

Ivey?
Giddey?
Dillingham?
Tre Jones?

So many others. Take your pick and they're probably gettable.

Anyone but Giddey.  I need less reason to hate my team, not more.

[JBB]

This is probably more for the NBA Trade: 26-27 thread that's coming over the summer, but if the Mavs don't end up with a PG in this draft, I plan on dreaming up ways of attacking the idiots who run Chicago. They added 8 players at the deadline, and most of them are guards. The have soooooo many guards now they can't even play all the ones they want to get a look at.

Ivey?
Giddey?
Dillingham?
Tre Jones?

So many others. Take your pick and they're probably gettable.

I think Ivey is a FA. Otherwise, I'd love a shot at the Dillingham reclamation project but likely too expensive until Chicago gives up. Jones ideally is overpriced even at $8m via a draft pick.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/FredKatz/status/2019969442843881657

Hornets amended their trade with the Bulls for Coby White
sending two second-round picks instead of three, due to White's
calf injury.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/2019996132521439563


Anthony Davis will sit out the rest of the season to get healthy.

[KillerLeft]

https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/2019996132521439563


Anthony Davis will sit out the rest of the season to get healthy.

Interesting that the surgery is still not mentioned.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Glad to not having street clothes in our roster finally.

[Scott41theMavs]

https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/2019996132521439563


Anthony Davis will sit out the rest of the season to get healthy.

Fascinating.

[F Gump]

https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/2019996132521439563

Anthony Davis will sit out the rest of the season to get healthy.

AD is definitely being asked by WAS to sit out the season. They have to have a successful tank, in order to keep their pick (which they lose if it's pick 9 or worse). Young is likely to sit too. 

However --- Based on what we saw from him in DAL, would we be shocked if, after sitting the rest of the season to heal, he then has surgery, that gets scheduled in June or July?