Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Mavs2021]

It´s clear that they are building toward something, but it´s clearly not winning next year. No matter how much you think Sexton or Simons stink, the moment Kyrie rests or worse there is absolutely nothing there to cover at the moment. I got no problem watching De Larrea, Ishchenko, Johnson, Biberovic, Poulakidas and Nembhard playing 15-30 MPG, but there were obvious and cheap ways this off-season to make the team better now. It´s just not their priority at the moment. I`m sure they hope the team will be better than it looks on paper, but I doubt they care, as long as the individual players develop according to the plan.

[DallasMaverick]

I recognize there is plenty of offseason left, but it takes two to tango.  Who knows if the right player is available, and the cost may end up being prohibitive.  Unless they have something lined up (which you would think would have been executed by now) it seems like kind of winging it.  I'm sure there is an element of PTSD here.  So many seasons where we have said this can't be it, and it ends up being it.  I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

You’ve consistently argued for trading current, prime players for draft picks and young prospects who align better with Cooper’s prime.

But it seems you’re also unhappy that they haven’t filled immediate needs for this current season.

Which is it?

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
The Houston Rockets are trading Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN.

Charlotte acquires additional draft capital -- it has 20 second-rounders over the next 7 years and now the second-most tradeable picks in the NBA. The Rockets open roster flexibility after acquisitions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, plus create a $13 million trade exception.

[mvossman]

You’ve consistently argued for trading current, prime players for draft picks and young prospects who align better with Cooper’s prime.

But it seems you’re also unhappy that they haven’t filled immediate needs for this current season.

Which is it?

I like most of the moves they have made in a vacuum, but there is value to getting more creation on this roster than just current season immediate needs.  If we are trying to raise the value of some of the vets, it would help to have a functioning roster.  As it stands there is a real danger they run Kyrie into the ground.  I'm also not a huge fan of running Flagg at the point, even for developmental purposes.

This teams biggest need going into the offseason was creation, and it will be even more so when Kyrie ages out.  So far there has been limited investment in future creation and they have spent assets rather than accumulating them.  I recognize the offseason is not over, but between the draft and trades that have already happened I'm not sure if there will be ton more movement out there.  We shall see.

[cow]

@ShamsCharania
The Houston Rockets are trading Dorian Finney-Smith and three second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN.

Charlotte acquires additional draft capital -- it has 20 second-rounders over the next 7 years and now the second-most tradeable picks in the NBA. The Rockets open roster flexibility after acquisitions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, plus create a $13 million trade exception.

Hornets doing work.  I mentioned them as a potential Powell destination, but God King can play the mentor role.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two Wizards second-round picks in 2031 and 2032, sources tell ESPN.

Not sure Hardy qualifies  as a defensive wing that they desperately need. But I’m sure Luka is happy Hardy is back.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania

The Lakers will now focus on finding Walker Kessler's backup on the market -- with centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among those being considered, sources said.

The Wizards took a patient approach to the start of free agency and now land a durable, reliable center to join Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr in the frontcourt

[windjc]

@ShamsCharania

The Lakers will now focus on finding Walker Kessler's backup on the market -- with centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among those being considered, sources said.

The Wizards took a patient approach to the start of free agency and now land a durable, reliable center to join Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr in the frontcourt

All these teams are going to be mediocre. It’s like reshuffling deck chairs on the titanic for most all these teams. 

The only interesting thing might be having a tank free league. 

The NFL and other leagues have gotten younger and younger so it’s no surprise that NBA is slowly gravitating to that model. San Antonio is the best set up at the moment and would be my preseason favorites.  OK has one more year before they implode. It’s all or nothing for them next year. 

NY will fall back to earth

Other contenders will rise from the dust. Maybe Philly. Maybe Heat. Maybe Mavs.

[DanSchwartzgan]

From Yahoo Sports.  Destinations for Top 10 Remaining FA's:

5) Bennedict Mathurin, G, RFA
2025 Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Bennedict Mathurin, a restricted free agent, remains one of the top players on the market. He joined the Clippers at last year’s trade deadline as part of the Ivica Zubac deal, and he averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26 games with Los Angeles. The young scoring guard would fit well into the Clippers’ long-term plans alongside Darius Garland and 2026 No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler should the two sides agree to a new contract. 

Potential Landing Spots: Clippers, Mavericks

[KillerLeft]

From Yahoo Sports.  Destinations for Top 10 Remaining FA's:

5) Bennedict Mathurin, G, RFA
2025 Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Bennedict Mathurin, a restricted free agent, remains one of the top players on the market. He joined the Clippers at last year’s trade deadline as part of the Ivica Zubac deal, and he averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26 games with Los Angeles. The young scoring guard would fit well into the Clippers’ long-term plans alongside Darius Garland and 2026 No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler should the two sides agree to a new contract. 

Potential Landing Spots: Clippers, Mavericks

I'd be ok with the Mathurin idea.

Good positional size for a guard - young, with room to improve.

Not super great at anything, but not terrible at anything. Could be a lethal shooter, but isn't yet. Could be a reliable shot creator, but isn't quite yet. Probably not a great defender, but has the tools to hold his own there and improve on a team that pushes him to do so. Sitchability...could defend as many as 4 positions, in theory, though 3 might be a safer bet.

If they believe in his potential, he's a guy I could get excited about.

[Chicagojk]

Dfs looked close to done but the rockets was probably the worst team for him. From what I remember, his salary is not guaranteed fully moving forward. I am sure the second round picks were the driver here but if DFS has anything left I could see him being an effective bench wing in Charlotte.

[KillerLeft]

Ok, so let's repeat the Henderson/Sharpe convo from yesterday, only about Mathurin:

What do we think his deal looks like? I would've said he'd get more than the MLE before FA started, but now I'm not sure I have a bead on it, frankly.

I buy the logic that he was the topic of conversations with Dallas before the deadline...since that was with IND, I'm sure it was about Gafford. Now that he's a Clipper, what would THEY want?

[Mavs2021]

@ShamsCharania

The Lakers will now focus on finding Walker Kessler's backup on the market -- with centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among those being considered, sources said.

The Wizards took a patient approach to the start of free agency and now land a durable, reliable center to join Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr in the frontcourt

The Wizards are still the same crappy franchise. They have now just taken a different approach to it. So the Lakers did not want Ayton to back up Kessler? Why? The most logical explanation is that  Ayton does not consider himself a back-up, so how will that work in Washington? AD as usual thinks he´s a PF. Ayton does not want to back up Kessler, but in Washington there should be even less minutes, since Sarr clearly should be the Wizards franchise player. I guarantee you that AD and Ayton will collude against the young French kid and Sarr goes from franchise cornerstone to that other guy. Oh yeah Washington is that dumb. If they are smart, they waive Ayton right now.

[Scott41theMavs]

I'd be ok with the Mathurin idea.

Good positional size for a guard - young, with room to improve.

Not super great at anything, but not terrible at anything. Could be a lethal shooter, but isn't yet. Could be a reliable shot creator, but isn't quite yet. Probably not a great defender, but has the tools to hold his own there and improve on a team that pushes him to do so. Sitchability...could defend as many as 4 positions, in theory, though 3 might be a safer bet.

If they believe in his potential, he's a guy I could get excited about.

Mathurin's defense supposedly gave Carlisle new (shaved) gray hairs. 

Thing is, Sexton and Simons weren't great shakes on defense either, and we supposedly sorta wanted them. With guys like Coop, Morez, Sasser, Lively, et al., we can probably afford a player who is a defensive liability. 

I wouldn't give him more than $12 mil in this market. You'd have to see what the Clipps want. If you're sending the LA pick, you'd better get some protections on it, plus M&M would have to be really sold on him being worthwhile.

[Mavs2021]

Ok, so let's repeat the Henderson/Sharpe convo from yesterday, only about Mathurin:

What do we think his deal looks like? I would've said he'd get more than the MLE before FA started, but now I'm not sure I have a bead on it, frankly.

I buy the logic that he was the topic of conversations with Dallas before the deadline...since that was with IND, I'm sure it was about Gafford. Now that he's a Clipper, what would THEY want?

Mathurin is now Finnish. This will drag out forever. Clippers know nobody can pay more than the MLE without their cooperation. Mathurin knows, if he signs somewhere for the MLE, they match it. Other teams know, if they want him they´ll have to pay 15M+ per year and give assets to the Clippers. And so it begins. CU all in mid August for this one.

[Scott41theMavs]

The Wizards are still the same crappy franchise. They have now just taken a different approach to it. So the Lakers did not want Ayton to back up Kessler? Why? The most logical explanation is that  Ayton does not consider himself a back-up, so how will that work in Washington? AD as usual thinks he´s a PF. Ayton does not want to back up Kessler, but in Washington there should be even less minutes, since Sarr clearly should be the Wizards franchise player. I guarantee you that AD and Ayton will collude against the young French kid and Sarr goes from franchise cornerstone to that other guy. Oh yeah Washington is that dumb. If they are smart, they waive Ayton right now.

They're not smart; otherwise they wouldn't have given the Lakers 2nd rounders for the privilege of waiving him.

[KillerLeft]

Mathurin is now Finnish. This will drag out forever. Clippers know nobody can pay more than the MLE without their cooperation. Mathurin knows, if he signs somewhere for the MLE, they match it. Other teams know, if they want him they´ll have to pay 15M+ per year and give assets to the Clippers. And so it begins. CU all in mid August for this one.

I think you've got the right angle on the chess match, and I think it's probably true that "north or south of the MLE" are the stakes. 

I don't know that I agree it will take that long. I agree it might play out like you think, but there also might be deals in place with 2-3 teams that have not reached the final agreement stage because of LeBron contingencies. I've been relieved that LeBron wasn't able to hold the entire process hostage this summer, but Mathurin seems like a player type who might be the backup plan for some teams trying to get LeBron to me.

[Scott41theMavs]

Mathurin is now Finnish. This will drag out forever. Clippers know nobody can pay more than the MLE without their cooperation. Mathurin knows, if he signs somewhere for the MLE, they match it. Other teams know, if they want him they´ll have to pay 15M+ per year and give assets to the Clippers. And so it begins. CU all in mid August for this one.

Well, if that's all the case, I'm probably out. Mathurin could become something of an albatross at that pay scale. If Mathurin doesn't want to play for the Clipps, they should facilitate his departure (while getting something for it).

[omahen]

The Wizards are still the same crappy franchise. They have now just taken a different approach to it. So the Lakers did not want Ayton to back up Kessler? Why? The most logical explanation is that  Ayton does not consider himself a back-up, so how will that work in Washington? AD as usual thinks he´s a PF. Ayton does not want to back up Kessler, but in Washington there should be even less minutes, since Sarr clearly should be the Wizards franchise player. I guarantee you that AD and Ayton will collude against the young French kid and Sarr goes from franchise cornerstone to that other guy. Oh yeah Washington is that dumb. If they are smart, they waive Ayton right now.

Your logic has so many holes... 

It was obvious that Lakers will be targeting a different starting center for months. If Ayton would think he is not a back-up, he would not pick his option but hit a FA market and find a team offering him a bigger role (and hopefully money). 

Lakers could use Ayton as a good back-up centre, but they have bigger needs elsewhere on the roster and those 2 SRPs might make the difference in getting an actually decent wing. They have some flexibility again. Either creating more cap space to sign either Kuminga or Rui they are reportedly interested in. Or they can trade with some team that has too many wings.