Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24)
"The Pistons are not interested in helping facilitate Jalen Duren's exit by setting up a sign and trade with another team" - @mcten

Duren just wants the free trip to Sacramento for the holiday.

[Jmaciscool]

I forget, is free agency at the point where a ton of deals are announced at 5:01 today or is there a no-we-didn't-tamper courtesy delay? Seems like one year there wasn't much that was quickly announced, but I don't remember if that was last season or the year before.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24)
"The Pistons are not interested in helping facilitate Jalen Duren's exit by setting up a sign and trade with another team" - @mcten

That's great.

No Lakers for him.

[KillerLeft]

I forget, is free agency at the point where a ton of deals are announced at 5:01 today or is there a no-we-didn't-tamper courtesy delay? Seems like one year there wasn't much that was quickly announced, but I don't remember if that was last season or the year before.

I'm not totally sure, but I believe it started earlier (in the day) this year. I could be dead wrong - I'm going off of an offhanded comment from a podcast.

[Smitty]

pretty crazy to think in the last day we may have the following players moving to new teams:  Lebron James, Lamelo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, and Marcus Sasser.

Hat tip!

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I think the Duren drama is way overhyped.

If the reports were accurate from weeks ago, they offered him every penny that another team can offer - 4 years, 25% max, 5% raises. So unless DET decides they don't want him, the hyped SAC pursuit with the Sabonis idea is just idle talking-head conjecture, and meaningless.
 
I really think what we are seeing regarding Duren is agent-driven theater, to try to give the illusion of great demand, but with no real chance to go anywhere. They're going to sign an offer with SAC for the same or less than DET offered? Or with LA? It makes no sense. The goal is to get an even bigger offer from DET, but to me they are already offering too much. Will they bid against themselves? They can if they want to, but unless he's worth way more, why would they?

I think Duren is nuts for even taking a call from the Kings, who is first on his list, then the Lakers. Does he want to play in purgatory instead of continuing to help the development of a pretty good young team?  The Kings are the "Witness Protection Program" of the NBA. Nobody knows you're there...

[KillerLeft]

pretty crazy to think in the last day we may have the following players moving to new teams:  Lebron James, Lamelo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, and Marcus Sasser.

It's early, but this is the one to beat for POTD.

[michaeltex]

@KeithSmithNBA
The Kawhi Leonard trade is already the 23rd agreed-to or executed trade of the 2026 offseason.

soooooo...

What happens if NBA HQ decides that Ballmer and Leonard did indeed collaborate to circumvent the salary cap? Obviously LACs can be fined and docked draft picks. But what about Leonard, especially if he is now with another team and has signed an extension of his current contract?

Or is this the reason he is so ready to get out of LA?

[KillerLeft]

soooooo...

What happens if NBA HQ decides that Ballmer and Leonard did indeed collaborate to circumvent the salary cap? Obviously LACs can be fined and docked draft picks. But what about Leonard, especially if he is now with another team and has signed an extension of his current contract?

Or is this the reason he is so ready to get out of LA?

Who knows...

...but I wouldn't hold my breath that anyone gets punished, at least publicly.

[Chicagojk]

soooooo...

What happens if NBA HQ decides that Ballmer and Leonard did indeed collaborate to circumvent the salary cap? Obviously LACs can be fined and docked draft picks. But what about Leonard, especially if he is now with another team and has signed an extension of his current contract?

Or is this the reason he is so ready to get out of LA?

Unfortunately the nba needs Ballmer more than he needs the nba.  I expect a slap on the wrist. Hope I am wrong.

NBA had a chance to remove the fifth pick but I mean how could you ever find things out in 6 months to punish them,

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/pablotorre/status/20720520...25870?s=61

[Smitty]

@mcten
LeBron James has instructed Rich Paul to talk to everyone around the league who is interested in him playing for them and come back to him with what the options are so he can make his decision, a source familiar with James' thinking told ESPN.




Keep him away from my favorite team!

[KillerLeft]

@mcten
LeBron James has instructed Rich Paul to talk to everyone around the league who is interested in him playing for them and come back to him with what the options are so he can make his decision, a source familiar with James' thinking told ESPN.

So the news here is: "LeBron James is approaching free agency the same way every free agent ever has, since the dawn of pro sports"...??!

How did we get through life before this level of journalism became available to us via the internet?

[DanSchwartzgan]

I'm a little late to the Sasser party.

I guess I can see the vision of a 3 & D point guard without much in the way of creation for others.  If we presume Naji is a point forward off the bench and de Larrea also has some creation ability (and can hit 3's along with Sasser off of Naji's creation), then we don't have to necessarily keep one of Flagg and Kyrie on the floor at all times.  Someone like that takes advantage of Naji's strengths fairly nicely and might help to hide some of de Larrea's defensive deficiencies.

[KillerLeft]

I'm a little late to the Sasser party.

I guess I can see the vision of a 3 & D point guard without much in the way of creation for others.  If we presume Naji is a point forward off the bench and de Larrea also has some creation ability (and can hit 3's along with Sasser off of Naji's creation), then we don't have to necessarily keep one of Flagg and Kyrie on the floor at all times.  Someone like that takes advantage of Naji's strengths fairly nicely and might help to hide some of de Larrea's defensive deficiencies.

I guess when I posted in favor of this rumor I wasn't looking at it as "the main" move. I assumed it would just be one of a few, and probably not the biggest, either. 

As you say, he has usable skills that teams need, especially the Mavericks, which is what I like about it. But, if that's THE move (don't think it will be) then I would understand the disappointment.

All of that to say: It hasn't really occurred to me to wonder how he fits with specific role players just yet, since I don't think we know which will still be here when the dust clears.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I'm assuming we're going to spend the MLE on someone, right?

Not sure if Sasser or the Euro we drafted are going to be rotation players until I see the final roster. I'd rather those type of guys are further down the roster. Maybe you develop him into a rotation player eventually.

[F Gump]

Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24)
"The Pistons are not interested in helping facilitate Jalen Duren's exit by setting up a sign and trade with another team" - @mcten

I thought so (and said as much). Since DET reportedly already offered Duren as much as any other team can offer him, and aren't interested in trading him, then the wild tales of him finding another team are just play acting. He's going nowhere.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Unfortunately the nba needs Ballmer more than he needs the nba.  I expect a slap on the wrist. Hope I am wrong.

NBA had a chance to remove the fifth pick but I mean how could you ever find things out in 6 months to punish them,

Ballmer wipes his ass with $100.00 bills. Silver will look the other way in regard to the Aspiration scandal. In fact, the NBA is close to a conclusion of the investigation according to Silver. No fines, no forfeiting draft picks, no nothing.  What is Silver going to say to Ballmer whose net worth is 121.3 billion? Now we await the results of the Aspiration investigation. The Clippers have 9 first-round picks now, but that amount could be reduced if penalized. Between this and the Zubac trade, it makes sense to load up on first-round picks just in case.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

To that end, the Cavs are trying to trade forward Max Strus, league sources told The Athletic, so they could sign LeBron — or perhaps another player — into that midlevel exception. Strus is slated to make $16.6 million next season. If Harden signs for $30 million, and if Cleveland can deal Strus and take back no salary in return, it would be able to give James the midlevel exception.

New York Times

[Moviemavguy]

So the news here is: "LeBron James is approaching free agency the same way every free agent ever has, since the dawn of pro sports"...??!

How did we get through life before this level of journalism became available to us via the internet?

I'll be quite happy when we don't have to talk about Lebron James anymore once he is out of the league...