Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

Pretty good signing by Detroit. Collins will leave you wanting more but I am sure he had a lot of interest as a MLE target across the league


Free agent John Collins has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal to sign with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Frontcourt addition and a new lob threat for Cade Cunningham in Detroit.

[Smitty]

Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
The reported contract for John Collins with the Pistons is for more than the Non-Taxpayer MLE. That signals this is either Detroit using cap space or working out a sign-and-trade with the Clippers.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Like i said before Smart is overrated, Pelinka is stupid but not so stupid to resign him with and higher contract.

[FireNicoHarrison]

A lot of overpaid role players in those days, happy to see the Mavs out of this circus.

[Jmaciscool]

Its a lot of money, but Kessler fits a Luka type center to a T. Plus he's a fantastic versatile defender. If there was any team you'd want to overpay to get a high quality rim rolling defensive center, its a Luka one.

But that does essentially cap them out. I'm not sure how good a Luka+Reaves+Kessler trio gets you in this west.

I think it would be good enough to eventually lead to a Reaves + Kessler duo.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Free agent John Collins has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal to sign with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Frontcourt addition and a new lob threat for Cade Cunningham in Detroit.

[SleepingHero]

@KuKhahil
Before I discuss Collins, immediate thoughts:

1- if I’m correct, this is more than the MLE. So the Pistons are operating as a cap team? Which would mean waiving all cap holds but Duren, which means letting go Tobias (also I think waiving Duncan but not 100% sure).
2- if the Pistons are indeed going cap space, there’s an interesting avenue to where that could have a clever impact on Duren’s situation.

[SleepingHero]

Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
Pistons can create about $24.3M in cap space by clearing out all non-guaranteed money and free agent cap holds, minus Jalen Duren.

If Duren is off the books too, that figure jumps to about $42.3M in cap space.

Lots more to play out for Detroit's offseason.

[Smitty]

@BrettSiegelNBA
Best available entering Day 2 of free agency:

PG:
Anfernee Simons
Gabe Vincent
Russell Westbrook
Mike Conley
Tyus Jones
Brandon Williams

SG:
Norman Powell
Collin Sexton
Quentin Grimes
Bradley Beal
Gary Trent Jr.
De'Anthony Melton
Jordan Clarkson
Bruce Brown Jr.

SF:
LeBron James
Peyton Watson (RFA)
Bennedict Mathurin (RFA)
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Khris Middleton
Ziaire Williams
Matisse Thybulle

PF:
Tobias Harris
Rui Hachimura
Jonathan Kuminga
Tari Eason (RFA)
Moritz Wagner
Kevin Love
Kenrich Williams
Kyle Anderson
Nic Batum

C:
Walker Kessler (RFA)
Jalen Duren (RFA)
Mitchell Robinson
Nikola Vucevic
Andre Drummond
Kevon Looney
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Nick Richards
Jaxson Hayes
Quinten Post (RFA)

[Smitty]

The FA options are very meh. The only two that interest me at all, at or below the MLE, is Sexton and Simons. Outside of that, there's nothing worth pursuing. It'll have to be in the trade market, if this team wants to improve the roster. Even Simons and Sexton are far from needle movers...

[Chicagojk]

Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
The reported contract for John Collins with the Pistons is for more than the Non-Taxpayer MLE. That signals this is either Detroit using cap space or working out a sign-and-trade with the Clippers.

I think Collins is a good signing but Detroit needs more work with or without a resigned Duren.   It sounds like so far it is Collins, Joe, resigned Huerter, and drafted Okorie in.    Robinson, Stewart and Harris out.   That seems like a wash for me without addressing a guard/forward running mate for Cade.    A big raise for Duren is probably in the cards and needed, but also restricts things too.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: Free agent Norman Powell has agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. Powell joins the Bulls as a potent scorer after an NBA All-Star season in Miami, averaging nearly 22 points over the last two years.

[SleepingHero]

The FA options are very meh. The only two that interest me at all, at or below the MLE, is Sexton and Simons. Outside of that, there's nothing worth pursuing. It'll have to be in the trade market, if this team wants to improve the roster. Even Simons and Sexton are far from needle movers...

Lebron at the MLE on this team would unironically fix this team in a lot of ways.

He solves the creation issues and is a big guard next to Kyrie.

Plus:

Lebron (6'9)
Kyrie (6'3)
PJ (6'7)
Cooper (6'9)
Gafford (6'10)

Big ass lineup.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: Free agent Norman Powell has agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. Powell joins the Bulls as a potent scorer after an NBA All-Star season in Miami, averaging nearly 22 points over the last two years.

That's a pretty big deal, and a big loss for some teams needing guard scoring.

[SleepingHero]

Like i said before Smart is overrated, Pelinka is stupid but not so stupid to resign him with and higher contract.

Smart was one of their most impactful defenders last year. Losing him for nothing is a big loss.

[Chicagojk]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: Free agent Norman Powell has agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN. Powell joins the Bulls as a potent scorer after an NBA All-Star season in Miami, averaging nearly 22 points over the last two years.

Interesting.  Bulls had a good draft per reports and also got Claxton for free, but sort of surprising or a 30 plus guy to go to a team who is not planning on winning anything soon.  Coulld be as simple as a money thing though.

[BigDirk41]

Any chance Detroit would be interested in a Kyrie / Gafford/ Lively swap for Duren / Robinson? I know that's not ideal with our lack of guards, but gets us a cornerstone 5. Duren, Morez and Flagg would be an amazing front court. I don't know the numbers so I'm sure other pieces would need to be added to make it work, but Detroit seems to be in win now mode. They've previously been mentioned as interested in Kyrie. I was thinking Lively might make them pull the trigger since he's a game changer when healthy, but that's a big if.

[BigDirk41]

Like i said before Smart is overrated, Pelinka is stupid but not so stupid to resign him with and higher contract.

I think Smart is a hell of a player personally and deserves the credit he receives. He's tenacious on defense and high basketball IQ. He's a winning player in my eyes.

[SleepingHero]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Updates to last night’s Late Night Intel:

Norm Powell’s two-year Chicago deal features a team option in Year 2.

Houston opted for the two-year deal with Marcus Smart covered in this piece.

Dallas’ expected trade for Detroit’s Marcus Sasser must wait until July 6.

[From Dirk to SCREW YOU Nico]

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
Updates to last night’s Late Night Intel:

Norm Powell’s two-year Chicago deal features a team option in Year 2.

Houston opted for the two-year deal with Marcus Smart covered in this piece.

Dallas’ expected trade for Detroit’s Marcus Sasser must wait until July 6.

Can someone help me understand why it must wait until 7/6?