Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

The Nuggets would have to add more than #26 to take on Braun. I'd put him in the top 10 worst contracts in the league because it's not only way above his value (he should be getting MLE money), but it's longterm. If he got here and didn't work out, that would be an albatross. 

I'm much more interested in Zeke Nnaji + #26 for #48.

I don't know if Nnaji will get them to give up 26.   Nor would I take 26 while giving up 30 for two years of Nnaji.    Although these are the types of deals the Mavs need to explore.   Teams may not want to pay this, but Mavs can stay patient.    Don't help a team out unless you are getting something you really want.   At some point you may find something you like.   Might take a lot of work and patience.

[cow]

A lot of these [other team gives us good draft picks to dump legit rotation players] trades seem like wishful thinking, as if the Mavs were the only possible trade partner for that team to shed salary.

It's why Braun is so interesting to me.  His extension kicks in this year so it's going to be expensive for Denver to get off of him should that be their desire.  Ujiri has ties to the Nuggets so that should get us in the conversation.  I don't really even care about #26 this year.  '31 is prize because Joker is probably aged out by then.  I know I said it a few posts ago, but I'd probably want no protections on that pick or for it to convey to a future unprotected first.  Would Denver do that?  No idea, but taking on $125M isn't a small ask.

[omahen]

It's why Braun is so interesting to me.  His extension kicks in this year so it's going to be expensive for Denver to get off of him should that be their desire.  Ujiri has ties to the Nuggets so that should get us in the conversation.  I don't really even care about #26 this year.  '31 is prize because Joker is probably aged out by then.  I know I said it a few posts ago, but I'd probably want no protections on that pick or for it to convey to a future unprotected first.  Would Denver do that?  No idea, but taking on $125M isn't a small ask.

Denver doesn't have 2031 pick to trade as they traded their 2030 and 2032 picks already. Even if they would have that pick, I think it would be crazy bad GM-ing to give up an unprotected pick in a pure salary dump.

Denver can only trade their 2026 pick (#26), 2026 SRP from Atlanta (#49) and will be able to trade their 2033 SRP.

[F Gump]

It must be VERY expensive for Dallas to take on enough salary to go back into the repeater window before July 1.

It's not possible for the Mavs to end up as a taxpayer in 2025-26, no matter what trade they make.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Dru Star: “The Heat thing is real. The Heat offer is real…it's pretty player & pick heavy. Why that's important is because the Bucks have indicated that if you're going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, they want picks & players. This checks that box…I think to me that’s the best package.” @JimOwczarski

[cow]

Denver doesn't have 2031 pick to trade as they traded their 2030 and 2032 picks already. Even if they would have that pick, I think it would be crazy bad GM-ing to give up an unprotected pick in a pure salary dump.

Denver can only trade their 2026 pick (#26), 2026 SRP from Atlanta (#49) and will be able to trade their 2033 SRP.

You are right about '31, I misread the chart.  I don't think they can trade #26 until the make the selection.  Not really interested in the Braun tire kick then.

[F Gump]

I did not, but that would make it worse. Cam's ULTBE is $4.1M. So, any hardcap deals where the Mavs take on more salary this league year is difficult. 

Those ULTBE bonuses are the deal killer (I didn't notice CJ's, sorry about that) -- but in the bigger scheme of things, they are also likely to make Johnson somewhat undesirable to DEN (or to any team dealing with A1 and A2 hard caps) and much more readily available. 

In general, I really liked the idea of finding a way to turn Martin and AJ Johnson into Cam Johnson and a pick, at some point or another. But if it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I did not, but that would make it worse. Cam's ULTBE is $4.1M. So, any hardcap deals where the Mavs take on more salary this league year is difficult. That's why Klay is the only 1:1 that works there. There are several 2:1 deals that work though, but at that point you're basically trade matching and the TPE is pointless and provides no savings to the Nuggets next year, which again is the whole point they're looking to trade Cam and/or Braun.

The ULTBE for 26/27 is $4.5mm and combined with the $5.5mm salary spread between Klay and Cam next season is $10mm of room compared to the apron.  I imagine they are trying to manage tax (which Klay for Cam helps some) and apron math (which it helps a bunch).  So even that deal isn't nothing for Denver.

Denver's picks are tied up, but it doesn't preclude a pick swap out into the future...2031 or 2033.  I think that might be more valuable than moving up four slots this year (but ask me after the draft and I might feel differently).

It appears Cam/Braun for Klay/Caleb/AJ works and is big enough to solve Braun's PPP issue.  It doesn't help much, but if you net out the wasted salaries of Caleb and AJ against Braun, it bring him down closer to $20mm/year.  I spent some time on this today and I think I would make this deal (I said earlier that I wasn't a fan).  Injuries played a huge role in the dropoff in his production.  WS's of 8 and huge +/- numbers don't grow on trees.  I think I would take the chance and slot Christie coming off the bench assuming the ankle issues aren't chronic and an off-season of rest will fix them.

Lively/Gafford/Cisse
PJ/Cam/
Flagg/Naji
Braun/Christie
Kyrie/Burries/Nembhard

That bench is pretty strong.

[ballsrchr]

The ULTBE for 26/27 is $4.5mm and combined with the $5.5mm salary spread between Klay and Cam next season is $10mm of room compared to the apron.  I imagine they are trying to manage tax (which Klay for Cam helps some) and apron math (which it helps a bunch).  So even that deal isn't nothing for Denver.

Denver's picks are tied up, but it doesn't preclude a pick swap out into the future...2031 or 2033.  I think that might be more valuable than moving up four slots this year (but ask me after the draft and I might feel differently).

It appears Cam/Braun for Klay/Caleb/AJ works and is big enough to solve Braun's PPP issue.  It doesn't help much, but if you net out the wasted salaries of Caleb and AJ against Braun, it bring him down closer to $20mm/year.  I spent some time on this today and I think I would make this deal (I said earlier that I wasn't a fan).  Injuries played a huge role in the dropoff in his production.  WS's of 8 and huge +/- numbers don't grow on trees.  I think I would take the chance and slot Christie coming off the bench assuming the ankle issues aren't chronic and an off-season of rest will fix them.

Lively/Gafford/Cisse
PJ/Cam/
Flagg/Naji
Braun/Christie
Kyrie/Burries/Nembhard

That bench is pretty strong.

That bench would have to be pretty strong.  I like Lively, but he STILL hasn't demonstrated the ability to stay on the court.  Hard to depend on that.  Once we get a better track record...then he can be called a "Man"...or one of the men.  So...Gafford and Cisse would have to take up the slack.

And...I also like PJ, a lot, but he doesn't play well next to Flagg.  This means Flagg plays out of position--which he can do--or we end up depending on Naji...which we did.  A problem for a good coach?...or fodder for more draft picks?  Interesting conundrum.