Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Scott41theMavs]

I plugged the issue of Ishchenko's height into Google AI, and was told:

"Vsevolod Ishchenko’s true height is 6'8". The 6'3" listing is an error stemming from international basketball databases (such as Eurobasket and some scrapers on NBA.com) confusing his player profile with another European prospect's measurements or using early, outdated youth evaluations.The Dallas Mavericks official 2026 Summer League roster, ESPN, DraftExpress, and major 2026 NBA Draft profiles all list the 21-year-old Russian wing at his accurate 6'8" measurement with a 7'0" wingspan."

If that's the case, I grovel and beg mercy from Schmitz.

[F Gump]

Going with the current roster would be an interesting gonzo, out-of-the-box M&M move, but it's not what virtually any other trying-to-win-and-develop-young-players-in-the-context-of-a-properly-constructed-roster FO would do. As has been pointed out many times by KL and as many other times by several other posters combined, this team is weak in creational guard play - unless Sergio quite literally is one of the five most NBA-ready players in this draft. They could stand to shed one, if not two, of the frontcourt guys, and need to add a guard. I just really have to squint to see more than two of Gafford, Naji, PJW, Klay, and Martin fitting here this fall. Three, presuming that Ishchenko is two-wayed or stashed. Re: Ishchenko stashing - there are others who don't think he even steps foot in the US as he has, given the international situation, if he had any intentions of returning home, and trying to stash him might burn that bridge pretty completely if "successful."

The problem I'm having with the "add a creator" theory is that it doesn't fit what we are seeing at all.
1 All the ideas being floated of another trade for this guy or that, they didn't really solve that. The Mathurins and Hachimuras and Watsons of the world, they do NOTHING in that area.
2 I'm not sure the Mavs share our concern. If they do, there's been no whisper at all of anyone they are pursuing who changes that aspect of the Mavs roster.
3 Mavs currently have at least 4 PG types on the roster. Kyrie will definitely start. Flagg will also be on the floor as a secondary creator. They have at least 3 other PGs who can chip in, and with upside, in DeLarrea, Nemby, Sasser. And fwiw, apparently your guy Ishchenko is also listed as a PG. Where would they even fit another?
4 The overflow you see elsewhere on the roster, I don't think it is really there in terms of numbers.
PG - 4 - Kyrie, DeLarrea, Nemby, Sasser
SG - 3 - Max, Klay, Tarik
SF - 3 - PJ, Naji, Martin
PF - 3 - Flagg, Morez, Aldama
C - 2 - Gaff, Lively

[F Gump]

So, regarding Sasser, was I wrong in thinking the Mavs had some other decent-sized TPEs aside from the AD TPE? If that's the case, it's probably that I was looking at TPEs that would supposedly be generated by the Aldama trade or some such that weren't created because of how we did the trade.

Hardy generated a 6M TPE when he was traded, and some saw that as the answer. But it was overlooked that that was offset by AJJ's 3.1M incoming salary so it's only a 2.9M TPE. And that's their next largest, after the AD 20.8M TPE.

About Ishy, to confirm for you, here's the link to Mavs SL roster, and Ishy is listed at 6-8. But he is a G, and iiuc a PG. We will see. https://www.nba.com/mavs/news/mavericks-...d-schedule

[FireNicoHarrison]

I plugged the issue of Ishchenko's height into Google AI, and was told:

"Vsevolod Ishchenko’s true height is 6'8". The 6'3" listing is an error stemming from international basketball databases (such as Eurobasket and some scrapers on NBA.com) confusing his player profile with another European prospect's measurements or using early, outdated youth evaluations.The Dallas Mavericks official 2026 Summer League roster, ESPN, DraftExpress, and major 2026 NBA Draft profiles all list the 21-year-old Russian wing at his accurate 6'8" measurement with a 7'0" wingspan."

If that's the case, I grovel and beg mercy from Schmitz.

Ish has size. That's probably one of the most important thing for Masai.

[FireNicoHarrison]

The problem I'm having with the "add a creator" theory is that it doesn't fit what we are seeing at all.
1 All the ideas being floated of another trade for this guy or that, they didn't really solve that. The Mathurins and Hachimuras and Watsons of the world, they do NOTHING in that area.
2 I'm not sure the Mavs share our concern. If they do, there's been no whisper at all of anyone they are pursuing who changes that aspect of the Mavs roster.
3 Mavs currently have at least 4 PG types on the roster. Kyrie will definitely start. Flagg will also be on the floor as a secondary creator. They have at least 3 other PGs who can chip in, and with upside, in DeLarrea, Nemby, Sasser. And fwiw, apparently your guy Ishchenko is also listed as a PG. Where would they even fit another?
4 The overflow you see elsewhere on the roster, I don't think it is really there in terms of numbers.
PG - 4 - Kyrie, DeLarrea, Nemby, Sasser
SG - 3 - Max, Klay, Tarik
SF - 3 - PJ, Naji, Martin
PF - 3 - Flagg, Morez, Aldama
C - 2 - Gaff, Lively

Flagg can help for sure buy we need a great contribution from Sergio... Maybe not from day 1 but soon as possible.

[SleepingHero]

Something really discouraging (would be a lot moreso had his acquisition been costlier): at the draft,was reported as 6'8" or at least 6'7". The Mavs website has him listed at 6'3". If that's the case, he probably doesn't make it in the L.

Edit: That height measurement is backed up by NBA.com. Man, if that's the case, that's a huge Schmitz miss. How the freaking eff do you mess up someone's height by four or five inches???

the Mavs website and the NBA website run off the same database, so the fact they have the same numbers listed isn't a surprise.

Bball ref, and practically every single other draft outlet had him listed at 6'7 or 6'8. I guess we will wait and see what's the true number. 

I agree, if he is only 6'3, I think it will be tough for him to make an impact, but if we look at his vid and pause it at 35 seconds:



Here is Ishchenko standing pretty upright and as flat footed as can be next to Andre Roberson who was an NBA player listed at 6'7 and he looks pretty much the same height. Definitely not 6'3.

[SleepingHero]

@RTNBA
The Cavs are reportedly prepared to clear the money to pay LeBron $15M next season by unloading Max Strus and Dennis Schröder, but haven't pulled the trigger yet, per @joevardon.

James Harden's new deal is also agreed but unsigned while Cleveland waits. A roster spot remains open, potentially for Bronny

[KillerLeft]

@RTNBA
The Cavs are reportedly prepared to clear the money to pay LeBron $15M next season by unloading Max Strus and Dennis Schröder, but haven't pulled the trigger yet, per @joevardon.

James Harden's new deal is also agreed but unsigned while Cleveland waits. A roster spot remains open, potentially for Bronny

I know it's not super sexy, but I'll say it again: I'd take Strus, especially if he comes with a draft capital tip. He can play and I think there's a rotation role for him here.

[KillerLeft]

One thing has become abundantly clear, even just as it relates to this summer in a vacuum: the new Mavs front office is patient. If we can reliably trust that this trend will last over the coming years, I like where this is all headed.

[Dundalis]

The problem I'm having with the "add a creator" theory is that it doesn't fit what we are seeing at all.
1 All the ideas being floated of another trade for this guy or that, they didn't really solve that. The Mathurins and Hachimuras and Watsons of the world, they do NOTHING in that area.
2 I'm not sure the Mavs share our concern. If they do, there's been no whisper at all of anyone they are pursuing who changes that aspect of the Mavs roster.
3 Mavs currently have at least 4 PG types on the roster. Kyrie will definitely start. Flagg will also be on the floor as a secondary creator. They have at least 3 other PGs who can chip in, and with upside, in DeLarrea, Nemby, Sasser. And fwiw, apparently your guy Ishchenko is also listed as a PG. Where would they even fit another?
4 The overflow you see elsewhere on the roster, I don't think it is really there in terms of numbers.
PG - 4 - Kyrie, DeLarrea, Nemby, Sasser
SG - 3 - Max, Klay, Tarik
SF - 3 - PJ, Naji, Martin
PF - 3 - Flagg, Morez, Aldama
C - 2 - Gaff, Lively

I feel like if you have 4 or 5 guys on the floor that can handle the ball solidly and can pass and create, it alleviates the need of that top tier primary ball handler. The more players on the court with zero ball handling or creation, the more a top tier ball handler or two is necessary. If the aim is to end up replacing guys on the roster that cannot create with equivalent players that can, then it starts to make more sense. Think that applies to the bigs as well as the guards. The more I think about it, the more I kind of wonder if Yaxel wasn't the right pick despite his age.

[KillerLeft]

I feel like if you have 4 or 5 guys on the floor that can handle the ball solidly and can pass and create, it alleviates the need of that top tier primary ball handler. 

I'm not sure whether the Mavs just don't think ball-handling is as important as I do, they think they have enough already or they just couldn't find anything out there worth doing (so far) in that area...I don't think any of us knows, for sure. Time will tell. 

But what I DO think I know is that regardless of how they plan to initiate offense, doing so got a lot easier this summer based on the amount of shooting they've added from all over the court. I'm stuggling a little bit to find ways of getting that shooting on the court with the way the roster is constructed, but...they HAVE it. That's 100% good news, because it's 2026 and they just couldn't be bottom-5 in 3-point attempts, makes AND percentage again this season. I'm SO thrilled to know they understand that and are doing something about it. It's a sign of basic basketball intelligence that frankly buys them a little benefit of the doubt from me. I'm going into this season with my mind more open than it has been in some time, regardless of what happens from here.

[KillerLeft]

But what I DO think I know is that regardless of how they plan to initiate offense, doing so got a lot easier this summer based on the amount of shooting they've added from all over the court. I'm stuggling a little bit to find ways of getting that shooting on the court with the way the roster is constructed, but...they HAVE it. That's 100% good news, because it's 2026 and they just couldn't be bottom-5 in 3-point attempts, makes AND percentage again this season. I'm SO thrilled to know they understand that and are doing something about it. It's a sign of basic basketball intelligence that frankly buys them a little benefit of the doubt from me. I'm going into this season with my mind more open than it has been in some time, regardless of what happens from here.

To expand on this:

Let's use De Larrea as an example. I am super excited about him, but have no clue what the Mavs' plan for his rookie year is. Do they plan for him to the 14th man, almost never play and basically red shirt? Do they plan to force him into the rotation from day 1, but use him more as an off-ball spacer, secondary creator, side pick and roll, second action of the possession type of dude to get his feet wet? Or, are they hoping against hope that he can be THE backup PG and can run the offense for 15-20 minutes each night? I have no idea, but...

...if it's the last one, I like his chances 1000% more on this roster, with this coach, than I would've last season with the worst spacing in the history of modern basketball. He's obviously smart and understands the game. Give a guy like that (or Sasser, or Kyrie, or even Flagg) SPACE to operate, and the game gets easier. I'll never forget what Nick Van Exel said after his first few practices here back in the day. It was something like "Nellie's spacing here is incredible. Now I understand why Nash has been killing me." 

I also think there's a pretty good chance Gafford benefits greatly from what I think they might be doing based on these moves. I think it will be easier for Johnson to make an impact right away...etc.

I have a tentative feeling that we're going to be treated to basketball that's actually fun to watch this year, and I'm excited.

[windjc]

To expand on this:

Let's use De Larrea as an example. I am super excited about him, but have no clue what the Mavs' plan for his rookie year is. Do they plan for him to the 14th man, almost never play and basically red shirt? Do they plan to force him into the rotation from day 1, but use him more as an off-ball spacer, secondary creator, side pick and roll, second action of the possession type of dude to get his feet wet? Or, are they hoping against hope that he can be THE backup PG and can run the offense for 15-20 minutes each night? I have no idea, but...

...if it's the last one, I like his chances 1000% more on this roster, with this coach, than I would've last season with the worst spacing in the history of modern basketball. He's obviously smart and understands the game. Give a guy like that (or Sasser, or Kyrie, or even Flagg) SPACE to operate, and the game gets easier. I'll never forget what Nick Van Exel said after his first few practices here back in the day. It was something like "Nellie's spacing here is incredible. Now I understand why Nash has been killing me." 

I also think there's a pretty good chance Gafford benefits greatly from what I think they might be doing based on these moves. I think it will be easier for Johnson to make an impact right away...etc.

I have a tentative feeling that we're going to be treated to basketball that's actually fun to watch this year, and I'm excited.

Glad you are excited. Dusty May already told you all this though. 

Championship in 2 years is the goal with exciting fast paced team oriented basketball in year 1.

[F Gump]

I know it's not super sexy, but I'll say it again: I'd take Strus, especially if he comes with a draft capital tip. He can play and I think there's a rotation role for him here.

Strus is useful when he plays, and that's the type of player I'd want in a salary dump to get some draft capital - one who can also contribute at some level, and perhaps is a bit overpaid or in the way of another team's preferred move.  

But he almost never plays. Injured wayyyyyyyyy too much. No thanks.

[Dundalis]

To expand on this:

Let's use De Larrea as an example. I am super excited about him, but have no clue what the Mavs' plan for his rookie year is. Do they plan for him to the 14th man, almost never play and basically red shirt? Do they plan to force him into the rotation from day 1, but use him more as an off-ball spacer, secondary creator, side pick and roll, second action of the possession type of dude to get his feet wet? Or, are they hoping against hope that he can be THE backup PG and can run the offense for 15-20 minutes each night? I have no idea, but...

...if it's the last one, I like his chances 1000% more on this roster, with this coach, than I would've last season with the worst spacing in the history of modern basketball. He's obviously smart and understands the game. Give a guy like that (or Sasser, or Kyrie, or even Flagg) SPACE to operate, and the game gets easier. I'll never forget what Nick Van Exel said after his first few practices here back in the day. It was something like "Nellie's spacing here is incredible. Now I understand why Nash has been killing me." 

I also think there's a pretty good chance Gafford benefits greatly from what I think they might be doing based on these moves. I think it will be easier for Johnson to make an impact right away...etc.

I have a tentative feeling that we're going to be treated to basketball that's actually fun to watch this year, and I'm excited.

I would expect that's completely and utterly on De Larrea. Young players develop and adapt at speeds that just about no one can predict. Could be really quick, could be really slow or in between. I think it would be smart to plan building the roster so that we can cope with him playing a pretty small role, but leaving room for the role to expand purely depending on how well or not his transition starts off being.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

To expand on this:

Let's use De Larrea as an example. I am super excited about him, but have no clue what the Mavs' plan for his rookie year is. Do they plan for him to the 14th man, almost never play and basically red shirt? Do they plan to force him into the rotation from day 1, but use him more as an off-ball spacer, secondary creator, side pick and roll, second action of the possession type of dude to get his feet wet? Or, are they hoping against hope that he can be THE backup PG and can run the offense for 15-20 minutes each night? I have no idea, but...

I have a tentative feeling that we're going to be treated to basketball that's actually fun to watch this year, and I'm excited.

Yea, it's all very confusing to me how this is going to work.  I said the same things about De Larrea's role in the summer league thread. Fans usually have a good idea of what the rotation might look like.  I like the coach and maybe he's capable enough to install a ball movement style of play where you're not dependent on specific playmakers.

The only thing is I am getting deja vu about the PG thing.  We had people talking last summer about hey Dangelo Russell can be pretty good, and Exum is pretty good, and Brandon Williams might give you something.  And then it turned out that no all the people with major concerns were right and we were severely lacking at PG.  Now it's the same thing with De Larrea, Nembhard, and Sasser.  De Larrea is 18.  Nembhard is undersized.  Sasser I don't even know.  To be honest, I am still skeptical this set of players will work.  If they don't make any major trades, I'm thinking another majorly developmental season.

[Dundalis]

Yea, it's all very confusing to me how this is all going to work.  I said the same things about De Larrea's role in the summer league thread.  Fans usually have a good idea of what the rotation might look like.  I like the coach and maybe he's capable enough to install a ball movement style of play where you're not dependent on specific playmakers.

The only thing is I am getting deja vu about the PG thing.  We had people talking last summer about hey Dangelo Russell can be pretty good, and Exum is pretty good, and Brandon Williams might give you something.  And then it turned out that no all the people with major concerns were right and we were severely lacking at PG.  Now it's the same thing with De Larrea, Nembhard, and Sasser.  De Larrea is 18.  Nembhard is undersized.  Sasser I don't even know.  To be honest, I am still skeptical this set of players will work.  I am leaning more towards they don't care if it works.  This is another developmental season.

To me it was partly forseeable purely because I think Jason Kidd is one of the worst offensive coaches in the league. Guy literally stands and watches like he says. If the pieces are there he can get a team playing defense, and he can develop players, but that's about it. Give him a generational playmaker to run the offense or there's gonna be problems. 

No clue how May is gonna adapt to the NBA, but I don't think he is the "Im just standing around watching" type like Kidd and probably is gonna attempt to implement some type of purposefully built offense that compliments the players he has. He seems like the basketball nerd who studies everything and cares about the details, where I think Kidd was the opposite, a savant player who just played and coached by instinct.

[KillerLeft]

I'm thinking another majorly developmental season.

I think it was always going to be that. They're building around a 19 year old, and while they can hold onto Kyrie for a while in some kind of gesture (might even be the right way to go), a 19-year old star and first time NBA coach weren't going to equal competitive, at least not in any real sense. I don't mean that with any judgement or in any negative way, but I resigned myself to this being "year 1" months ago.

Where I've been since the end of last year is: fine, they've got to rebuild. That sucks, but it is what it is. Can't undo the decisions of the past few years, when the ammo was spent, or the last two, when the focal point of the team was unceremoniously shipped out of town. Our "fan body clocks" might be set for the next few years to be special (should've been Luka entering his prime), but that's just not where the team is anymore. As long as they're honest, realistic and smart about this, and...above all, patient, then I'm game for another ride. In the end, all I need is entertaining basketball and plausible hope that they're building towards being a great team.

The reason I'm so jazzed by the approach is that while they've basically done what I'd have done (young players), I didn't expect to feel like they're into modern basketball so clearly so quickly. I think they might be better than I expected this season, and if not I'm really confident the team will at least be more fun than last year's.

[Winter]

I think it was always going to be that. They're building around a 19 year old, and while they can hold onto Kyrie for a while in some kind of gesture (might even be the right way to go), a 19-year old star and first time NBA coach weren't going to equal competitive, at least not in any real sense. I don't mean that with any judgement or in any negative way, but I resigned myself to this being "year 1" months ago.

Where I've been since the end of last year is: fine, they've got to rebuild. That sucks, but it is what it is. Can't undo the decisions of the past few years, when the ammo was spent, or the last two, when the focal point of the team was unceremoniously shipped out of town. Our "fan body clocks" might be set for the next few years to be special (should've been Luka entering his prime), but that's just not where the team is anymore. As long as they're honest, realistic and smart about this, and...above all, patient, then I'm game for another ride. In the end, all I need is entertaining basketball and plausible hope that they're building towards being a great team.

The reason I'm so jazzed by the approach is that while they've basically done what I'd have done (young players), I didn't expect to feel like they're into modern basketball so clearly so quickly. I think they might be better than I expected this season, and if not I'm really confident the team will at least be more fun than last year's.

Yep. Of course it's going to be a developmental season.  A bunch of shiny new coins. Younger by a mile. We all remember what Houston and Detroit looked like 4 years ago. 

Neither had Flagg or anywhere near the talent we do now, so I don't expect it to be that bad.

[F Gump]

 I think they might be better than I expected this season, and 

I think they will pursue winning with these young developing players being involved in the mix to the full extent they can merit. I see some minutes being given because they need them, but some will only be given if they earn them and are the most valuable solution. Hopefully that turns into a huge amount, by the end of the season. But a bit of winning will be what drives it all (or its absence will lead to problems). 

I think Kyrie is going to play way more, and have way more impact, than is generally expected. I think his presence on the floor matters way more than people realize. He and Flagg imo will be the keys to the winning they need.