Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

As long as we never retire his number I don't mind him hogging it.

Dwight Powell hate detected.

[KillerLeft]

Obviously, it wouldn't matter much in the grand scheme of things... But I'd be pretty disappointed if they made a move, even something like waiving Nemby, to bring back Powell. I think it's past time to move on there. Hire him as an assistant if you feel his presence is so important...

MAJOR Dwight Powell hate detected.

[KillerLeft]

@MavsPlsWin
Morez Johnson tried to wear 7 and said that it was taken, Aldama wore 7 in Memphis and for the Spain national team now he’s switching to 34.

Dwight Powell last wore 7 and is currently a free agent.. does this mean.....

On a serious note...you know the interesting part of the summer is over when a stupid tweet like this prompts you to do an AI search for "all current NBA players who wear jersey number 7," which I admit I just did. 

It was pointless, of course. I did it anyway. Sigh.

[Smitty]

MAJOR Dwight Powell hate detected.

HA! I had major respect for his game 4-5 years ago. Still respect what he's been able to do here all these years. He's just not an NBA level basketball player anymore is all. I would actually like for them to keep him around on the staff somehow. I think he's an awesome guy.

[KillerLeft]

HA! I had major respect for his game 4-5 years ago. Still respect what he's been able to do here all these years. He's just not an NBA level basketball player anymore is all. I would actually like for them to keep him around on the staff somehow. I think he's an awesome guy.

Ok, careful. We're venturing into the realm of "ban-worthy Dwight Powell hate."

[Jmaciscool]

On a serious note...you know the interesting part of the summer is over when a stupid tweet like this prompts you to do an AI search for "all current NBA players who wear jersey number 7," which I admit I just did. 

It was pointless, of course. I did it anyway. Sigh.

Any interesting names that wear #7 and also fit into the TPE/MLE? 

[KillerLeft]

Any interesting names that wear #7 and also fit into the TPE/MLE? 

Not really. The only two I even remember, just minutes later, were NAW and Rob Dillingham. Well, Giannis and Jaylen Brown, of course.

[Knutsen]

Ok, careful. We're venturing into the realm of "ban-worthy Dwight Powell hate."

I would ban him, just to set an example.

Can we retire Dwight Powell‘s face instead of his jersey? Played better D with his face than with the rest of his body - he may be an all time face defender.

[DallasMaverick]

MAJOR Dwight Powell hate detected.

Didn’t know he had any military experience…

[KillerLeft]

I would ban him, just to set an example.

Can we retire Dwight Powell‘s face instead of his jersey? Played better D with his face than with the rest of his body - he may be an all time face defender.

I've often thought of what the Powell statue would be like when rightfully placed next to Dirk's. The problem, I think, is that it would have to include another player's hand or arm in mid-face slap, so it might be challenging to make it obvious that the player depicted in the piece of art was Dwight Powell.

...which brings us back to the importance of retiring #7. That might be the only way to identify him when we gaze at the golden/bronze busts of our two franchise cornerstones on the way into future games.

[Smitty]

@MavsFilmRoom
Marcus Sasser per-36 stats last season:

15.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, 1.6 SPG. .390/.415/.883 splits

Won’t be playing nearly that many minutes next season, but will likely have a larger role in Dallas. Encouraging sign he can increase his production as a result.

------------------------------


I think I'm at the point of hopium, knowing the Mavs are likely done making moves. But there is something there with Sasser. I'd expect him to want to fight like hell for the opportunity to get the PG2 spot behind Kyrie, knowing he'll get a lot of playing time. Being a RFA next year, he'll want to show out and maximize his earning potential. His agent isn't dumb. He also sees the opportunity here for his client, given our guard talent, or lack thereof...

[KillerLeft]

@MavsFilmRoom
Marcus Sasser per-36 stats last season:

15.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, 1.6 SPG. .390/.415/.883 splits

Won’t be playing nearly that many minutes next season, but will likely have a larger role in Dallas. Encouraging sign he can increase his production as a result.

------------------------------


I think I'm at the point of hopium, knowing the Mavs are likely done making moves. But there is something there with Sasser. I'd expect him to want to fight like hell for the opportunity to get the PG2 spot behind Kyrie, knowing he'll get a lot of playing time. Being a RFA next year, he'll want to show out and maximize his earning potential. His agent isn't dumb. He also sees the opportunity here for his client, given our guard talent, or lack thereof...

I totally agree, and have been excited about this acquisition from the beginning. The things that seem to create disinterest around this acquisition are:

1) He's small

2) He's not even a guaranteed rotation player

3) He's only "3&D"

I think #1 is accurate, but the other two are not good assumptions, imo. His path to a meaty role in DET seems to have been difficult, given their roster situation, and while it's his shooting that gives me confidence he can stay on the floor here, I actually think he's got some SCORING skill. He's pretty good in the pick and roll, actually, and I'm intrigued to see if he can level up here.

[Smitty]

I totally agree, and have been excited about this acquisition from the beginning. The things that seem to create disinterest around this acquisition are:

1) He's small

2) He's not even a guaranteed rotation player

3) He's only "3&D"

I think #1 is accurate, but the other two are not good assumptions, imo. His path to a meaty role in DET seems to have been difficult, given their roster situation, and while it's his shooting that gives me confidence he can stay on the floor here, I actually think he's got some SCORING skill. He's pretty good in the pick and roll, actually, and I'm intrigued to see if he can level up here.

Just read this write-up below. About to watch the film breakdown... https://youtu.be/kYFjtHYaBOg?si=1hssxE_bDvqPp5kE


An in-depth breakdown of a third-string guard. I pulled all of this film prior to 2025 opening night as I was expecting Sasser to have a breakout year, but an extended injury absence and the unforeseen emergence of Daniss Jenkins has knocked him down the Motor City pecking order. With the trade deadline looming, Sasser's current standing becomes all the more intriguing.

I typically seek to shed light on up & comers where there is more than meets the eye. But Sasser doesn't quite fall in that category. Aside from a few defensive nuances in terms of effort and help tendencies, his game does the talking. He has few below-the-surface enigmatic qualities that you would typically find me harping on about.

Archetype:
Marcus is a 6'1" off-guard, an archetype that can be inhibitive by its very nature. His ideal circumstance would be in a Payton Pritchard-like role, with multiple wing-sized (or frontcourt) offensive fulcrums that he can play off of while doing the brunt of his work one or more passes away or from the second side. While that may seem painstakingly specific, his transferability is far less dire than you might initially think. When you go team-by-team and assess his compatibility in terms of both rotational need and floor balance, the number of suitors is striking. Think Denver, Houston, Orlando, Minnesota, Dallas. As a buy-low option as a third or fourth guard, he is the type of talent on the fringes that could revitalise a bench unit.
There is reasonable doubt whether he would even feature in a Playoff rotation in the near term. We’ve seen many diminutive off-guards denied playoff minutes (Jevon Carter comes to mind), but Gabe Vincent and Bones Hyland are recent examples  of a similar ilk that broke through and proved their worth.

Offense:
First & foremost, Sasser is a top-shelf shot-creator. Drop coverage is a losing proposition when the ball is in his hands. 61% of Sasser's 3PT attempts during his career thus far have come off the bounce. He has buried 35.9% off the catch and 39.6% off the dribble from distance. His form is impeccable - feet width, guide hand, follow through. I could nitpick his release point being at eye level, but the speed and fluidity of his motion more than makes up for it. Plus he has proven adept at gaining separation independently.
Outside of his flamethrower jump shooting, Marcus can finish in the lane when run off the line and afforded space outside the restricted area. His playmaking lacks any true floor generalship, making him ideally deployed as a part-time pick & roll operator. When asked to initiate the offense from the top, he primarily gets to spots inside the arc with a live dribble and capitalizes on a man advantage.

Defense:
Sasser's stature is a defensive hurdle, but it is less of a drawback because of how industrious he is when overmatched in switch scenarios. On-ball he can buckle down and backshift with the quickest guards in the league, coupled with the guile on the move to weave through ball screens and remain keyed in on his assignment.
Away from the action, Marcus is the type of defender constantly seeking to plug holes, and it blooms far more often than it backfires. He is rarely dissuaded by long closeouts and he visibly diagnoses and executes at each frame of a possession which goes a long way when it comes to helping the helper.

The Bottom Line:
Sasser is far from a world-beater, nor is he a surefire Playoff contributor at this juncture. But he is sinking in the Pistons' depth chart, and sharpshooting, quick-hitting guards who are scheme-able defensively are in hot demand. The price should be relatively low, while the pay-off could be sky-high. He is exactly the type of backcourt sparkplug that can make all the difference by toggling on and off the ball and bolstering a bench unit.

[cow]

@MavsPlsWin
Morez Johnson tried to wear 7 and said that it was taken, Aldama wore 7 in Memphis and for the Spain national team now he’s switching to 34.

Dwight Powell last wore 7 and is currently a free agent.. does this mean.....

We are so back, baby!

[DanSchwartzgan]

Just read this write-up below. About to watch the film breakdown... https://youtu.be/kYFjtHYaBOg?si=1hssxE_bDvqPp5kE

 
Offense:
First & foremost, Sasser is a top-shelf shot-creator. Drop coverage is a losing proposition when the ball is in his hands. 61% of Sasser's 3PT attempts during his career thus far have come off the bounce. He has buried 35.9% off the catch and 39.6% off the dribble from distance. His form is impeccable - feet width, guide hand, follow through. I could nitpick his release point being at eye level, but the speed and fluidity of his motion more than makes up for it. Plus he has proven adept at gaining separation independently.
Outside of his flamethrower jump shooting, Marcus can finish in the lane when run off the line and afforded space outside the restricted area. His playmaking lacks any true floor generalship, making him ideally deployed as a part-time pick & roll operator. When asked to initiate the offense from the top, he primarily gets to spots inside the arc with a live dribble and capitalizes on a man advantage.

 

If you think about our backups (as the roster currently stands), most of the creation will come from Naji at the 3 and Larry at the 2 (eventually when Klay isn't in the way of him getting minutes).  That three person combo slots Sasser's playmaking into just the kind of role described here.  Aldama in the corner (where he's really effective) and Morez setting screens for everyone should be the formula for a second unit that scores effectively.

[FireNicoHarrison]

No Cuban, no Harrison, No Kidd, no Powell... What a fantastic season is coming.

Too much hype on Sasser guys, a 26yo who never shined in NBA, the 36per stats is one of the most useless stat in the universe.

He is a 5points carrer average and 39% from the field last season.

If he can play 10minutes per game is a major success for me.

[DallasMaverick]

No Cuban, no Harrison, No Kidd, no Powell... What a fantastic season is coming.

Dang. 

You won’t have anything to complain about.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Dang. 

You won’t have anything to complain about.

It depends on how often you write here...

I'm joking 

[Smitty]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
The Denver Nuggets are waiving veteran center Jonas Valanciunas, sources tell ESPN. Valanciunas is expected to receive interest from multiple NBA teams.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

[Windhorst] The Wizards when they traded for Trae Young promised him a max contract in exchange for sitting out the rest of the season so they could also tank for AJ Dybantsa