Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[dirkfansince1998]

Great give him a regular season trophy. When it mattered he was a huge net negative, but I guess we only use stats, when they suit our agenda. Joe has one NBA skill and that is 3pt shooting. He shot barely above 30% in the two biggest play-off series last year. But let´s pretend this is a huge loss for the Thunder and that the apron repercussions should not factor into the conversation.

Career play-offs: 10 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 0.7 APG, 38% from three.
Career play-offs: 10 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 0.9 APG, 44% from three.

So if Jason Kidd  had told Hardy to never dribble a basketball, we could have gotten four 2nd round picks for him, since he makes half of Joe, plays the same shitty defense as Joe and only has one NBA skill: 3pt shooting. 

Now you will tell me the story of the elite floor spacer I. Joe and that Joe played all the meaningful minutes? Yes somehow only gets to 10 MPG and 38% 3pt shooting.  

Let´s take Luke Kennard instead. Same salary, better player, no apron trouble, yet the Hawks didn´t get two 2nd round picks.  They got one and had to take Gabe Vincent´s trash contract. So stop with this BS that Joe is some super talent. Presti is a great negotiator. That´s it.

Kennard is a FA, too. Let´s see how much he gets paid.

All good. Continue to live in fantasy land. Some day you might figure out why things never play out like they do in fantasy land. Why Gafford didn't land#25. Why Joe has more value than Klay. Why Caruso isn't getting dumped. And so on. 
But please ignore my posts. We are clearly living in different realities. Waste of time to engage each other.

[Smitty]

This one's for Killer:


Version 1

DAL: Vit Krejci, Lottery Protected FRP
POR: Jaylen Brown
BOS: Daniel Gafford, Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharp, 3 FRP's from POR


Version 2 (Tephlon's)

DAL: Shaedon Sharp
POR: Jaylen Brown
BOS: Daniel Gafford, Jerami Grant, 3 FRP's from POR, 1 FRP from DAL

*Gafford inclusion is because of the rumors BOS has interest, and POR is rumored to not want to add Clingan in any Brown deal.

[Mavs2021]

All good. Continue to live in fantasy land. Some day you might figure out why things never play out like they do in fantasy land. Why Gafford didn't land#25. Why Joe has more value than Klay. Why Caruso isn't getting dumped. And so on. 
But please ignore my posts. We are clearly living in different realities. Waste of time to engage each other.

Will do, sir. Clearly you are my superior. While you bask in your advanced genius, maybe look up, who suggested to pick up I. Joe from the waiver wire, when the Sixers waived him.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Joe $12 million AAV and Wiggins $9 million AAV can be rotation players at reasonable salary for half the teams in the league. Why would OKC have to pay to move them? Other teams want to win, now collude against OKC.

[dirkfansince1998]

Will do, sir. Clearly you are my superior. While you bask in your advanced genius, maybe look up, who suggested to pick up I. Joe from the waiver wire, when the Sixers waived him.

A victory lap because you suggested to pick up a player that by your own words from the post above isn't any good. Make it make sense.

[Mavs2021]

A victory lap because you suggested to pick up a player that by your own words from the post isn't any good. Make it make sense.

I didn´t say he is not any good. I said that the trade is a ridiculous overpay, cause his contract is at best a net neutral. The Thunder clearly had to trade him and wanted to trade him. Not only for financial implications, but also roster spot availability. They had zero leverage to trade the player for positive assets. The it only takes one mantra, seems to only apply to Presti, but no other GM that needs to cut salary.

It´s hilarious how you all rationalized that the Pistons only got three 2nd round picks for Stewart, cause of the cap implications tied to the deal, but when the Thunder are in a much more precarious cap situation with a far inferior player, you once again rationalize it by pulling the "it only takes one card" and two 2nd round picks are more than fair compensation.

You think this is the result of some extrordinary/fair player value of I. Joe , and I think it´s the result of Presti being a master negotiator and talent evaluator.

[windjc]

You are way too hung up on Pretsi. He is not Red Aurbach. His teams have won one championship and that was because the other teams best player got hurt in game 6.

The Presti love on this board is over the top.

[windjc]

If the max salaries continue to kill teams and no one wants to trade anymore, then coaching and scouting will become more and more valuable. This is good for the Mavs.

And worst case scenario for this message board that survives in speculative trade talks above all else.

[vfromlmf]

If the max salaries continue to kill teams and no one wants to trade anymore, then coaching and scouting will become more and more valuable. This is good for the Mavs.

And worst case scenario for this message board that survives in speculative trade talks above all else.

This board survives because it's a community. People come for all sorts reasons.

[Smitty]

How they ace their offseason: The Mavericks have already completely overhauled their basketball leadership since the season ended, beginning with the hiring of team president Masai Ujiri, the architect of the 2019 champion Raptors. Ujiri has hired general manager Mike Schmitz, a renowned evaluator of draft talent, and recruited head coach Dusty May fresh off Michigan's NCAA championship.

The rest of the summer should be about collecting assets for a long-term build around reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. The Mavs are banking on No. 9 pick Morez Johnson Jr., a rugged, talented big who played for May at Michigan, to be a major part of that. They are expected to continue to explore the trade market for several veterans on the roster, although Kyrie Irving remains firmly in the Mavs' plans as he returns from March 2025 knee surgery.

One move they should make: How about helping out old friend Luka Doncic in Los Angeles? The Lakers have a desperate need for a lob-catching, rim-protecting big man and are going to have a hard time addressing it in free agency, as Detroit (Jalen Duren) and Utah (Walker Kessler) have no intentions of losing their restricted free agent centers.

The Mavs explored trading Daniel Gafford before last season's deadline but couldn't find a team willing to give up a first-round pick in return. If the Lakers are willing to part with their 2031 or 2033 pick, the Mavs should be willing to let Gafford go, especially with Johnson capable of taking his minutes. -- Tim MacMahon

[dirkfansince1998]

I didn´t say he is not any good. I said that the trade is a ridiculous overpay, cause his contract is at best a net neutral. The Thunder clearly had to trade him and wanted to trade him. Not only for financial implications, but also roster spot availability. They had zero leverage to trade the player for positive assets. The it only takes one mantra, seems to only apply to Presti, but no other GM that needs to cut salary.

It´s hilarious how you all rationalized that the Pistons only got three 2nd round picks for Stewart, cause of the cap implications tied to the deal, but when the Thunder are in a much more precarious cap situation with a far inferior player, you once again rationalize it by pulling the "it only takes one card" and two 2nd round picks are more than fair compensation.

You think this is the result of some extrordinary/fair player value of I. Joe , and I think it´s the result of Presti being a master negotiator and talent evaluator.

Wasn't me and as far as I can tell that wasn't the majority opinion on this board. As far as I can tell the Stewart trade was pretty fair value.
I really don't get why you are doing this to yourself. It's the same story every single time. Outlandish predictions and trade proposals. Followed by reality crashing down on you. Followed by attempts to explain why reality got it wrong.

If you only look at it from OKC's perspective. Sure they need to dump salary. But that isn't changing the quality or the value of the player. Teams can try to use it as leverage in negotiations with OKC but that's not the primary goal for them. Pistons priority is their own roster. They desperately needed shooting. Joe was one of the best options on the market. It's not just OKC feeling some kind of pressure to get certain things done.

[Mavs2021]

Wasn't me and as far as I can tell that wasn't the majority opinion on this board. As far as I can tell the Stewart trade was pretty fair value.
I really don't get why you are doing this to yourself. It's the same story every single time. Outlandish predictions and trade proposals. Followed by reality crashing down on you. Followed by attempts to explain why reality got it wrong.

If you only look at it from OKC's perspective. Sure they need to dump salary. But that isn't changing the quality or the value of the player. Teams can try to use it as leverage in negotiations with OKC but that's not the primary goal for them. Pistons priority is their own roster. They desperately needed shooting. Joe was one of the best options on the market. It's not just OKC feeling some kind of pressure to get certain things done.

The Pistons could have signed Anfernee Simons for 15M/year for FREE or they could have paid 11M/year and two 2nd round picks for Joe.

And now Mr. Advanced Stats guy don´t lie to me. You would prefer I. Joe in this scenario for the Mavs, cause you cannot comprehend that Simons could play also be a nobody, play 10 MPG off the bench in selective spots against weak opposition and shoot 50%, not just 38.5%, from three. You think basketball is just math. That´s why you believe a team of Carusos, Joes and Powells could win in this league, when they could not break 75 points a game. 

And trades are judged based on what the actual result of the trade is, not what two strangers negotiated. Nobody is bragging about getting Luka´s trade value right, cause Nico and Pelinka negotiated that exact deal. And in this case the Pistons made the awful decision to replace Stewart for I. Joe and a 2nd round pick, when they could have gotten a better player for anything between a two way contract and the MLE and kept Stewart. You just need to do your job well.

How many here would have traded two Mavs 2nds to OKC for Joe? John Poulakidas is hitting 40.3% from three on a two-way contract.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Wasn't me and as far as I can tell that wasn't the majority opinion on this board. As far as I can tell the Stewart trade was pretty fair value.
I really don't get why you are doing this to yourself. It's the same story every single time. Outlandish predictions and trade proposals. Followed by reality crashing down on you. Followed by attempts to explain why reality got it wrong.

If you only look at it from OKC's perspective. Sure they need to dump salary. But that isn't changing the quality or the value of the player. Teams can try to use it as leverage in negotiations with OKC but that's not the primary goal for them. Pistons priority is their own roster. They desperately needed shooting. Joe was one of the best options on the market. It's not just OKC feeling some kind of pressure to get certain things done.

  Agreed. I don't understand how most of you guys think Gafford can extract a 1st round pick. Personally, when healthy I think Stewart is the better center, and he only procured 3 2nd's. I think Gafford's value is not high around the league, or he would have been traded by now. Has any teams inquired if he's available?  Haven't heard much.

[Smitty]

  Agreed. I don't understand how most of you guys think Gafford can extract a 1st round pick. Personally, when healthy I think Stewart is the better center, and he only procured 3 2nd's. I think Gafford's value is not high around the league, or he would have been traded by now.  Has any teams inquired if he's available?  Haven't heard much.

My memory isn't quite what it used to be, but I think I remember the reporting at the deadline to be that the Mavs were holding out for a first round pick and that offer never came. The best rumored offer was 4 SRP's. However, this is a new front office, and we have no idea how they see Gafford's trade value or his actual on-court value. The new MBT may be willing to trade him for less than a first, or they may value his on-court presence even more so than the last regime. What we do know for sure is that nothing leaks from this front office, and everything we think we know - we don't.

As for Stewart and how it relates to Gafford in the trade market, I've already tried to give some context with that one...

[KillerLeft]

I don't think Gafford is worth a 1st. I'm not sure he was worth a 1st when the Mavs gave one up for him, but they were of course highly motivated at the time.

They probably could get a 1st if they move his salary for worse salary...but that would have to be some BAD, BAD salary to be worse than Gafford's "just now starting this season" extension, lol.

I'd be over the moon if they could accomplish two things with a Gafford trade: 1) Get younger and 2) get a reasonably similar quality of player, but one whose positional flex is either 1-2 or 2-3.

[dirkfansince1998]

The Pistons could have signed Anfernee Simons for 15M/year for FREE or they could have paid 11M/year and two 2nd round picks for Joe.

And now Mr. Advanced Stats guy don´t lie to me. You would prefer I. Joe in this scenario for the Mavs, cause you cannot comprehend that Simons could play also be a nobody, play 10 MPG off the bench in selective spots against weak opposition and shoot 50%, not just 38.5%, from three. You think basketball is just math. That´s why you believe a team of Carusos, Joes and Powells could win in this league, when they could not break 75 points a game. 

And trades are judged based on what the actual result of the trade is, not what two strangers negotiated. Nobody is bragging about getting Luka´s trade value right, cause Nico and Pelinka negotiated that exact deal. And in this case the Pistons made the awful decision to replace Stewart for I. Joe and a 2nd round pick, when they could have gotten a better player for anything between a two way contract and the MLE and kept Stewart. You just need to do your job well.

How many here would have traded two Mavs 2nds to OKC for Joe? John Poulakidas is hitting 40.3% from three on a two-way contract.

All of this outrage just because your prediction that OKC would have to attach picks to move players was off. I guess I should have taken heed of the warning...you live up to the always angry part...

I have never said anything about Simons. Never said that Caruso, Joe and Powell can win the league. Hilarious that numbers are such a trigger for you. Advanced stats aren't everything but in a conversation with anonymous posters on a message board they are an objective data point. Makes for a more interesting debate than just repeating the same gut feeling talking points again and again. Anyway. Strawman away...

[Smitty]

I don't think Gafford is worth a 1st.

It only takes one. One GM that feels the heat after missing out on their target(s). Plus, Rob owes us one.

[dirkfansince1998]

It only takes one. One GM that feels the heat after missing out on their target(s). Plus, Rob owes us one.

Lakers missing out on Robinson and Williams III is the most likely scenario but who knows apparently they entered the Duren conversation.

[KillerLeft]

It only takes one. One GM that feels the heat after missing out on their target(s). Plus, Rob owes us one.

Hey man, I'll be THRILLED if they can get a 1st. 

My thing is that we need to stop with this whole "it's ok, maybe someone will offer something better at the deadline" mindset. And then at the deadline, it's "they'll get better offers over the summer." And on and on it goes. 

I can see the thinking with Kyrie (or with Lively, if you're on the team that wants rid of him) but the rest of these guys' value are only decreasing from here on out. If the new coach/front office has a plan to use them, that's one thing, but if not...

[Smitty]

Lakers missing out on Robinson and Williams III is the most likely scenario but who knows apparently they entered the Duren conversation.

Duren would be shocking for sure. Williams is returning to PHX. It may be down to Robinson or bust for them.