Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

So LeBron is not coming to Dallas. They are not a contender and it doesn’t match up to our timeline.

In a vacuum though, it is fun to think what it would look like adding him to the team, right?

[Winter]

Who is left?  Is there anybody that would make sense?

I'm not sure what the thinking is. Trade exceptions go unused a lot, and I've never fully understood how a Front Office views them

[DanSchwartzgan]

I'm not sure what the thinking is. Trade exceptions go unused a lot, and I've never fully understood how a Front Office views them

As it stands, Aldama is going into the TPE.  That could change if we were to expand the deal and send out players who might trade match Aldama.  But right now the TPE is used (or $17mm of it) and the MLE and BAE are still available.

[SweetFidelia]

What does it say below Dallas? 

Oil, gas and ????

https://x.com/theheatcentral/status/2072...04713?s=46

oil, golf, Macao, Africa.

[Winter]

So LeBron is not coming to Dallas.  They are not a contender and it doesn’t match up to our timeline.

In a vacuum though, it is fun to think what it would look like adding him to the team, right?

At some point, guys like LeBron become more of a nuisance than a star and team leader.

Magic Johnson's second stint (post-aids) with the Lakers.... his teammates literally hated him. 

I can kind of see that with the Lebron. He just sucks up all the oxygen. Young teams are better off without him. 

It's an ugly legacy if you can't let go.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Cisse is 2-way eligible, which gives them some potential minutes from him without eating up a 15-man spot. And they have matching rights, in case he gets a better offer. I think a plan to keep Cisse as a 2-way is their answer to the uncertainty of what Lively's path will look like.

Yep, I was just responding to a list that didn’t have him listed as one of our two way players which I assume he will be.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

So if LeBron actually went to Denver, does that squeeze Peyton Watson out?

[Smitty]

Best available free agents:

PG
J. Harden
R. Westbrook
G. Vincent
B. Williams
A. Holiday

SG
B. Mathurin ®
B. Brown
B. Beal
G. Trent Jr
G. Payton II

SF
K. Middleton
S. Jones ®
M. Thybulle
Z. Williams
J. Tate

PF
L. James
P. Watson ®
D. Green
R. Hachimura
J. Kuminga

C
J. Duren ®
A. Drummond
N. Richards
Q. Post

[Smitty]

How things stand… Assuming Stein is right about Sasser (still odd how it’s being reported) and if Sergio isn’t a stash, then the Mavs have 1 spot open on the 15-man. Tarik?


Kyrie | Sasser | Nemby
Christie | Klay | Sergio
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | Aldama
Gafford | Morez | Lively

Two-Way: Poulakidas, Smith
SRP’s: Lawal, Ishchenko
UFA: BWill, Powell, Middleton
RFA/QO: Cisse

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: Free agent forward Javonte Green has agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million deal to return to the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. Green played all 82 games for the Pistons a season ago, averaging 6.9 points, 17.6 minutes and 38.1% 3-point shooting. Non-bird rights for Javonte Green. 120% above 7-year veteran exception.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: Boston Celtics 7-footer Neemias Queta will sign a new four-year, $56 million extension with the franchise, his agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tells ESPN. Queta has established himself as a critical Celtics piece – from two-way contracts to averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks as a starting center. The Celtics picked up Neemias Queta's team option for next season -- and the sides add four full guaranteed years through 2030-31. After going in the second round to the Kings in 2021, the big man went on to sign three two-ways and three prove-it multiyear deals. Now locked into $56M.

x.com

[Winter]

How things stand… Assuming Stein is right about Sasser (still odd how it’s being reported) and if Sergio isn’t a stash, then the Mavs have 1 spot open on the 15-man. Tarik?


Kyrie | Sasser | Nemby
Christie | Klay | Sergio
Flagg | Naji | Martin
PJW | Aldama
Gafford | Morez | Lively

Two-Way: Poulakidas, Smith
SRP’s: Lawal, Ishchenko
UFA: BWill, Powell, Middleton
RFA/QO: Cisse

This is in no way a finished product.

They can't do a few things until they understand what the situations are with Sergio and Bibikiov. And If Klay is on the roster at the start of the season, I'll be shocked. And then there's Middleton's decision and the rather vague opportunities surrounding Marshall, Washington, and Gafford.

I think we are going to have to grind it out for quite a bit longer.

[Moviemavguy]

So LeBron is not coming to Dallas.  They are not a contender and it doesn’t match up to our timeline.

In a vacuum though, it is fun to think what it would look like adding him to the team, right?

Yeah because we need all the forwards.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

"The league is overrun with strategy," an Eastern Conference scout said. "Honestly, I'm not sure how many people who work in the league are actually watching the games." "Yes, there are more graduate degrees in front offices now, but that's only part of the picture," a Western Conference general manager said. "The aprons force you to analyze all of your spending more and put more attention to detail on getting the most out of each salary slot. The owners put that into the rules, and the players accepted it. This is all a choice."

ESPN

[HoosierDaddyKid]

League executives have been struck by the money being spent on centers this summer. The Lakers traded two first-rounders, two second-rounders and two swaps to Utah in a sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler, whom they hope will become their franchise center for Luka Doncic's prime years, and then Los Angeles signed him to a four-year, $130 million deal. "There's several teams who wanted Kessler for a few years, and if it had been a truly open market, other teams might've been willing to make a similar [trade] offer," one NBA personnel director said. "But I'd be worried about doing a big deal with the Ainges [Jazz front office leaders Danny and Austin] just on principle."

ESPN

[ThisIStheYear]

So LeBron is not coming to Dallas.  They are not a contender and it doesn’t match up to our timeline.

In a vacuum though, it is fun to think what it would look like adding him to the team, right?

It actually sounds like LeBron is seriously considering Dallas. What’s the basketball fit? I’d say with a second year Coop, who should reach top 10 status if he’s truly on the timeline of the all time greats and not just the mere regular greats, who tend to reach all star status in year 3, Dallas could be a marginal contender. But, we don’t have a starter quality shooting guard. Lebron doesn’t solve that problem. How’s the roster going to work with Lebron and Coop? They seem duplicative. Dallas does seem to be at least able to offer a full mid level, which may not be available from other big market, prominent franchises.

[Smitty]

This is in no way a finished product.

They can't do a few things until they understand what the situations are with Sergio and Bibikiov. And If Klay is on the roster at the start of the season, I'll be shocked. And then there's Middleton's decision and the rather vague opportunities surrounding Marshall, Washington, and Gafford.

I think we are going to have to grind it out for quite a bit longer.

Thinking through the roster and how I view each players role and where they fit on a made up depth chart.

Kyrie is an All-star. PG1 or SG1. Simple. 

Max is a fringe starter on a good team. SG/SF. If he’s your 5th guy, it’s not a problem. 

Flagg, superstar, is and always will be a 3, that can play 1-2-4-5. Basketball player. Put him wherever you want on a depth chart.

PJ is a very good starter. A 4 that can play the 3 and also some 5. Can be the POA defender in certain matchups.

Gafford. Starting caliber 5. Doesn’t play starter minutes. More like a platoon guy. Innings eater. Tone setter.

Sasser and Nemby might be closer to PG3/PG4 guys on a good team.

Klay can still help a team. 16-20 minutes shooter off the bench. Can pencil him at the 2 or 3.

Sergio is a 3rd Guard from what I’ve seen so far, could be more. Can pencil him in at 1, 2, and probably the 3, given his size and off-ball skills.

Naji is a bench Wing. Can put him in 1-4 if you want to but pretty much the ideal backup 3 on a good team that has plenty of shooters.

Martin is a VetMin guy that provides defense off the bench. Situational type player. Offense for defense sub. Makes too much for the role, but not unplayable. 2-3-4.

Aldama and Morez are 4-5 guys. One’s a stretch Big the other is a versatile defender type. Both backup roles for now, with room to grow.

Lively is a bench Big. 14-16 mpg guy. Starter level impact, bench level role, for reinjury risk reasons. 


All that said, I think they’re missing a real PG2 type. Relying on a combination of Sasser/Nemby/Sergio when Kyrie is out of the game or gets injured is signaling to me that the real backup plan is more Flagg and Naji running things. Maybe that’s the plan, and simply adding more shooting is the way they’ll go, but I’m still on the Moar Guards train.

[Winter]

All that said, I think they’re missing a real PG2 type. Relying on a combination of Sasser/Nemby/Sergio when Kyrie is out of the game or gets injured is signaling to me that the real backup plan is more Flagg and Naji running things. Maybe that’s the plan, and simply adding more shooting is the way they’ll go, but I’m still on the Moar Guards train.

Agreed. Without someone like Cason Wallace, the gap seems too much to call this roster "finished".

[Smitty]

Agreed. Without someone like Cason Wallace, the gap seems too much to call this roster "finished".

Probably hetting ahead of myself here, but I’m thinking the Two-Way guys will be: Poulakidas, Lawal, Cisse. 

Ishchenko is the odd man out there? Tyler Smith also not back next year.

What do you think?

[Reunion Mav]

As always I really enjoy perhaps the best, most informative site in the NBA.

We certainly seem to have a better team than last year and last year was far more competitive than their injured, tanking record indicated. Still, I watched the least Mavs basketball ever!

This year we will try so I will be back. We have addressed lack of future picks with lots of picks this year. Time will tell as always.

This is incredibly interesting again. We will be competitive again but how well we actually do will be a work in progress. We are getting to the point where we have enough quality youth to be able to look forward to the future with our present being at least hopeful again. Yea for that!