Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/all_things_mavs/status/207...12677?s=61

[SleepingHero]

Yay?  A sign that Williams is gone perhaps?

Definitely doesn't seem like the Mavs would keep BOTH Williams and Sasser. Duplicate roles.

I will say reading Pistons twitter, they don't like that Sasser is potentially leaving and that he's primed for a breakout.

[michaeltex]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
The Mavericks have emerged a leading suitor to acquire Detroit's Marcus Sasser via trade, league sources tell @TheSteinLine.

More NBA Intel from @JakeLFischer and me: https://t.co/K2otdALX1K

Sasser is scheduled to make ~$5.2M next season, the last on his rookie contract. 
Played in 38 games, averaging 12 minutes per game, 5.2ppg, on 39%/41.5%/83%
Not sure why DAL would bother unless there is a sweetener attached.

[Scott41theMavs]

Sasser is scheduled to make ~$5.2M next season, the last on his rookie contract. 
Played in 38 games, averaging 12 minutes per game, 5.2ppg, on 39%/41.5%/83%
Not sure why DAL would bother unless there is a sweetener attached.

Or unless he is a good, underutilized player.

[SleepingHero]

Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit)
I have to imagine this is connected to DET needing to move salary for a Duren Deal.

[SleepingHero]

Sasser is scheduled to make ~$5.2M next season, the last on his rookie contract. 
Played in 38 games, averaging 12 minutes per game, 5.2ppg, on 39%/41.5%/83%
Not sure why DAL would bother unless there is a sweetener attached.

He definitely is more than his stats make him out to be. 

But there is definitely more to this story than just Sasser.

[Smitty]

If it’s into the Hardy TPE/BAE, you’d be at 15 spots, assuming you bring back Cisse.

Kyrie | (Sasser) | Nemby
Christie | Klay | (Sergio) | AJJ
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | (MoJo)
Lively | Gafford | (Cisse)

[michaeltex]

Or unless he is a good, underutilized player.

Games played 71/57/38 and minutes per game 19/14/12 decreased each season. 

And he's listed at 6'1". 

Personally, I'd rather just pay BWill the $5M and bring him back.

[SleepingHero]

If it’s into the Hardy TPE/BAE, you’d be at 15 spots, assuming you bring back Cisse.

Kyrie | (Sasser) | Nemby
Christie | Klay | (Sergio) | AJJ
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | (MoJo)
Lively | Gafford | (Cisse)

Martin+AJJ to SAC and DET for Malik and Sasser. Would be a pretty savvy move.

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
On top of the full non-taxpayer MLE and a $20.3M TPE via the Anthony Davis trade, Dallas also generated a $6 million trade exception by trading away Jaden Hardy. Sasser's $5.2M salary for next season could slot into it.

More from @JakeLFischer and me: https://t.co/K2otdALX1K

[Tyler]

Personally, I'd rather just pay BWill the $5M and bring him back.

Bwill shot 23% from 3 last year. Sasser shot 41%.

[Chicagojk]

Could be that there is no longer a place for him in Detroit.    They drafted Okorie and want to give him minutes.   They also have Jenkins who has played a lot of minutes last year.  Could be that they get out ahead and clear that 5 million.  It could be nothing more.

I tend to like Houston players.   These smaller guards sort of run together for me.    I will need to go back and watch him.   I think some of the other Houston guys were less scorers, but they typically are tough guys.

[BigDirk41]

Sasser is scheduled to make ~$5.2M next season, the last on his rookie contract. 
Played in 38 games, averaging 12 minutes per game, 5.2ppg, on 39%/41.5%/83%
Not sure why DAL would bother unless there is a sweetener attached.

Why would they attach a sweetener to the deal? I doubt the Mavs would be getting him for free, yet alone with a "sweetener" attached.

[michaeltex]

If it’s into the Hardy TPE/BAE, you’d be at 15 spots, assuming you bring back Cisse.

Kyrie | (Sasser) | Nemby
Christie | Klay | (Sergio) | AJJ
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | (MoJo)
Lively | Gafford | (Cisse)

Respectfully,

Why pencil in Sasser ahead of Nemby? 

Also, my mind is skittering around having Christie as the starting SG looking for a better rotation. But, unless Sergio unexpectedly explodes onto the scene, we are stuck with this lineup.

Let's see where we end up in a couple weeks.

[mvossman]

Trying to make sense of this...

Because Sasser on paper doesn't really fit as he's a smaller score first guard. If we wanted one of those, we could just keep BWill...

But maybe he's a smaller piece of the Kings-Duren SnT where the Mavs are getting Sasser+something. He fits well into the BAE or the Hardy TPE. 

Could Malik Monk also be coming to Dallas?

Sasser shot over 41% from three last season and is 39% for his career.  Per 36 minutes he has 6 assists to 2.5 turnovers.  He is also a good point of attack defender (although limited by his size).  I think he brings more to the table than Williams, especially from 3.

[Smitty]

Respectfully,

Why pencil in Sasser ahead of Nemby? 

Also, my mind is skittering around having Christie as the starting SG looking for a better rotation. But, unless Sergio unexpectedly explodes onto the scene, we are stuck with this lineup.

Let's see where we end up in a couple weeks.

I don't know much of anything about Sasser tbh. I do know Nemby's game and he's nothing more than a 3rd PG type to me right now. That's the only reason.

[Smitty]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III has agreed to sign a three-year, $44 million contract extension to return to the Portland Trail Blazers through 2028-29, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Trying to make sense of this...

Because Sasser on paper doesn't really fit as he's a smaller score first guard. If we wanted one of those, we could just keep BWill...

But maybe he's a smaller piece of the Kings-Duren SnT where the Mavs are getting Sasser+something. He fits well into the BAE or the Hardy TPE. 

Could Malik Monk also be coming to Dallas?

He's very different than BWill. Coming out of Houston he was billed as a POA defender who can also provide spacing.  I know Detroit ended up favoring their two way player that they developed but I can see the Mavs envisioning him as a high level perimeter defender (at least by this current roster's standards) and secondary playmaker.  Would be surprised if they expectation would be for him to be able to play with Kyrie while he's here and guard up at times.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III has agreed to sign a three-year, $44 million contract extension to return to the Portland Trail Blazers through 2028-29, agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN.

Oh this is kind of a surprise, I thought most reports had him expected to leave today or tomorrow, potentially to the Lakers.  Was kind of hoping that him leaving could create a Gafford need in Portland but guess that's no the case anymore.

[michaeltex]

Bwill shot 23% from 3 last year. Sasser shot 41%.

And overall BWill was 47% while Sasser was 39%. Sasser's 3pt shooting was a career best. BWill shot 40% the previous season.

Neither is a great option. Maybe one could squint and decide Sasser was preferred for +2" in height and hope the 3pt % kept improving. Maybe the BWill market is pricing him higher than DAL wants to invest.

Kind of shuffling the deck chairs looking in from the outside.