Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[KillerLeft]

Luka and Thybulle finally on the same team.


[Charania] Free agent forward Matisse Thybulle has agreed on one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

Somehow, I predict he'll fall out of the rotation by season's end, even on that team that desperately needs him. I'm so sick of hearing about this dude. The defensive legend that never was. Every fan wants him on their team until they see it in reality, just like Ntilikina.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Luka and Thybulle finally on the same team.


[Charania] Free agent forward Matisse Thybulle has agreed on one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

This has been the deal some have thought the Lakers would do when they gave up on Kuminga or PJ Washington.  Not sure what Kuminga does if LA is off the table.  They don't seem to want him in ATL nor do they need bodies back in a S&T after yesterday.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Man, I know you love him, but it's a contract year for him and it just doesn't feel like there's a future here. I think the options are: move him this summer, move him at the deadline or let him walk next summer. I suppose a sign and trade is an option, but they're going to have a lot of financial mouths to feed a year from now, and my guess is that they'll try to squeeze one more year in as non-tax team. I think I would.

This is what Cow gets for the Christie disrespect yesterday 

[KillerLeft]

This has been the deal some have thought the Lakers would do when they gave up on Kuminga or PJ Washington.  Not sure what Kuminga does if LA is off the table.  They don't seem to want him in ATL nor do they need bodies back in a S&T after yesterday.

Cleveland, if LeBron doesn't go. No idea if LeBron does go there. 

I checked in on the Hawks board to see what they thought of the Risacher trade (in true fan fashion, they were simultaneously glad he was traded but upset that they didn't get multiple 1st round picks for him, lol) and the consensus was that bringing Dort and his money into the equation was the last nail in the coffin for Kuminga coming back there.

[cow]

Man, I know you love him, but it's a contract year for him and it just doesn't feel like there's a future here. 

I'm not sure where the sentiment comes from that there is no future for him here.  He's an inexpensive rotational guy that get create quality looks for himself, can spot start, is inexpensive and wants to be here (never take that facet for granted).  This board's obsession with trading him FAR outweighs my like for Naji. He's only 28 so there are a lot worse things we could do than extended him...like giving him away or trading him for a dinosaur.

[KillerLeft]

I'm not sure where the sentiment comes from that there is no future for him here.  He's an expensive rotational guy that get create quality looks for himself, can spot start, is inexpensive and wants to be here.  This board's obsession with trading him FAR outweighs my like for Naji.  He's only 28 so there are a lot worse things we could do than extended him...like giving him away or trading him for a dinosaur.

I hear you, but don't see it. 

I know you want him back more than all these guys before I even bring this up, but the team is right up against the tax line right now, today, and taking Marshall completely out of it, they have the following who are extension eligible (right now, I think): Kyrie Irving, Max Christie and Derrick Lively II (I might be missing one, even). Thompson is a FA soon, but I don't expect him to be here much longer, of course. We now have to wonder how prominently Risacher factors into their thinking, and they have significant salary tied up (for now) into both Gafford and PJW. Aldama's financial future is a question, too. Not sure if he's extension eligible right now or not, but I'm pretty sure he's got either a team or player option for next season, too. 

They've added a lot of interesting players this summer, but there's potential for the overhead on this group to skyrocket if they're not careful. I don't like Marshall's chances of being here next year (as in '27-'28). So, unless they're ok with just allowing him to sign somewhere else next summer (maybe they are), kind of seems like sooner is better than later to cash in. Then again, maybe your'e right - maybe he'll be a huge priority. I kind of doubt it, given the ages of everyone brought in this summer.

EDIT: maybe they already plan confidently to be a taxpayer for the '27-'28 season. That's very possible.

[cow]

I hear you, but don't see it. 

I know you want him back more than all these guys before I even bring this up, but the team is right up against the tax line right now, today, and taking Marshall completely out of it, they have the following who are extension eligible (right now, I think): Kyrie Irving, Max Christie and Derrick Lively II (I might be missing one, even). Thompson is a FA soon, but I don't expect him to be here much longer, of course. We now have to wonder how prominently Risacher factors into their thinking, and they have significant salary tied up (for now) into both Gafford and PJW. Aldama's financial future is a question, too. Not sure if he's extension eligible right now or not, but I'm pretty sure he's got either a team or player option for next season, too. 

They've added a lot of interesting players this summer, but there's potential for the overhead on this group to skyrocket if they're not careful. I don't like Marshall's chances of being here next year.

I'd love Kyrie back, but I think he'll be traded next offseason at the latest.  I'll skip Max since I don't like the player.  I think a lot of the moves that MBT3.0 have made lean towards a future without DLive and as much as i like him, when you make AD look like an ironman it's hard to even gauge what his value should be for his next contract.  There probably is no future for Landlord either which is sad, I think he gets a bit of a bum wrap around here because of his "expensive" contract (a sentiment I don't agree with either).  Risacher is a flier and any factor he plays into it at this point will be microscopic.  PJW is the biggest wildcard as he's a useful player coming off a down season and a new contract which hurts his value and also seems like the type of guy Ujiri would want on his team.  That's all to say that I don't think it will be difficult to find a way to get Marshall a reasonable bump (3y 33-35M) offer.

[MFFLER est 01]

No we will not.

Thank you. Yea hell no not Naji

[KillerLeft]

I'd love Kyrie back, but I think he'll be traded next offseason at the latest.  I'll skip Max since I don't like the player.  I think a lot of the moves that MBT3.0 have made lean towards a future without DLive and as much as i like him, when you make AD look like an ironman it's hard to even gauge what his value should be for his next contract.  There probably is no future for Landlord either which is sad, I think he gets a bit of a bum wrap around here because of his "expensive" contract (a sentiment I don't agree with either).  Risacher is a flier and any factor he plays into it at this point will be microscopic.  PJW is the biggest wildcard as he's a useful player coming off a down season and a new contract which hurts his value and also seems like the type of guy Ujiri would want on his team.  That's all to say that I don't think it will be difficult to find a way to get Marshall a reasonable bump (3y 33-35M) offer.

You might be right, we will see. My point was more about the sum of all of that, not any of them, specifically.

They’re out there buying things on credit, and the bills start to come in soon. Clearly, they have some type of plan and some type of hierarchy here…ways they hope things go.

[cow]

You might be right, we will see. My point was more about the sum of all of that, not any of them, specifically.

They’re out there buying things on credit, and the bills start to come in soon. Clearly, they have some type of plan and some type of hierarchy here…ways they hope things go.

I think I got your point, but I'd ask why Naji is the odd man out in that equation when there are so many other outs.  That's what I was trying to illustrate anyway.

[KillerLeft]

I think I got your point, but I'd ask why Naji is the odd man out in that equation when there are so many other outs.  That's what I was trying to illustrate anyway.

I can only answer for myself, but I feeeeeel like recent moves give a little indication that the Mavs are at least somewhat on the same page (maybe not, to be fair):

He's so much better on ball than off. Like, at the risk of dipping into hyperbole, I'm tempted to suggest he has almost no value off ball. If they're looking to run the offense through Flagg, fine, and you could look at Marshall as his backup, only backing up the franchise player who'll probably average 32-38 minutes per isn't a very big role. Definitely not big enough to warrant the "inexpensive" descriptor you've assigned relative to his salary, which I'm assuming he hopes is increased on any type of extension. 

I know you believe he and Flagg play well together, but I do not. And, judging by May's "he needs more space" comments and the fact that shooting (and age) seems to be the driving force behind everything they're looking at this summer, I think it's a fairly safe assumption that the new management team's assessment of how the team was assembled and played last year was similar to mine, at least in some ways. So, to my thinking, that's 32-35 minutes a night where Marshall just doesn't fit on the floor as well as basically any of the other wing/forward options.

I think he's a good player coming off of a good year. In no way am I trying to disrespect him. I just don't think I see a fit for him here, personally. Since I think he's TOO valuable to just let walk next summer, it just seems like finding a way to cash in now makes sense.

It's all just my opinion, obviously.

[KillerLeft]

I think I got your point, but I'd ask why Naji is the odd man out in that equation when there are so many other outs.  That's what I was trying to illustrate anyway.

I'd add that I think several of the names listed are likely to be "the odd man out," not just Marshall. 

I'd be pretty surprised if more than one of Kyrie, PJW, Gafford and Marshall were here in Dallas one year from today, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're all gone. The actions of the team this summer lead me to believe they see themselves very much in the mold of a "rebuilding" team.

[cow]

I'd add that I think several of the names listed are likely to be "the odd man out," not just Marshall. 

I'd be pretty surprised if more than one of Kyrie, PJW, Gafford and Marshall were here in Dallas one year from today, and I wouldn't be surprised if they're all gone. The actions of the team this summer lead me to believe they see themselves very much in the mold of a "rebuilding" team.

It's not Ujiri's fault, but there isn't a lot of benefit to being the typical rebuilding team with the hole Nico dug.  Whatever you want to describe it as, it's a pretty difficult needle to thread.  We aren't done yet (hopefully), but I'd be really disappointed in the team construction if it stays as is.  Right now I'm reminded of a fantasy football owner that uses all his top draft picks for QBs to corner the market.

I think he's a good player coming off of a good year. In no way am I trying to disrespect him. I just don't think I see a fit for him here, personally. Since I think he's TOO valuable to just let walk next summer, it just seems like finding a way to cash in now makes sense.

I'd rather watch him play for another season and walk for nothing that the vast majority of trades purposed here. I'll trade him for value, but that has to be value with a future or I'd rather just reinvest in him.

[KillerLeft]

It's not Ujiri's fault, but there isn't a lot of benefit to being the typical rebuilding team with the hole Nico dug.  Whatever you want to describe it as, it's a pretty difficult needle to thread.  We aren't done yet (hopefully), but I'd be really disappointed in the team construction if it stays as is.  Right now I'm reminded of a fantasy football owner that uses all his top draft picks for QBs to corner the market.

I agree, but I've also completely given up on any hope of them being good this year, which enables me to think and get excited about the ground floor aspect of all of this. The building for the future. I'm not suggesting others can't get excited about that without giving up hope for this season - it just helps me not go crazy over the mess of roster balance like I did last year. 

I'll be happy if some of these young guys are getting minutes with obvious signs of improvement over the year AND the team is displaying actual NBA level offensive/defensive systems on the court. Are they moving the ball? Does everyone have a role and understand it? Does it seem like they're building towards something that will actually work? Things like that. That's where my bar is for this season. 

Don't get me wrong - I'll be THRILLED if they're better than expected and come anywhere close to making noise.

[cow]

I agree, but I've also completely given up on any hope of them being good this year, which enables me to think and get excited about the ground floor aspect of all of this. The building for the future. I'm not suggesting others can't get excited about that without giving up hope for this season - it just helps me not go crazy over the mess of roster balance like I did last year. 

I'll be happy if some of these young guys are getting minutes with obvious signs of improvement over the year AND the team is displaying actual NBA level offensive/defensive systems on the court. Are they moving the ball? Does everyone have a role and understand it? Does it seem like they're building towards something that will actually work? Things like that. That's where my bar is for this season. 

Don't get me wrong - I'll be THRILLED if they're better than expected and come anywhere close to making noise.

Define good?  I think .500 is within reason unless we move Kyrie by the TDL or injuries.

[KillerLeft]

I'd rather watch him play for another season and walk for nothing that the vast majority of trades purposed here.  I'll trade him for value, but that has to be value with a future or I'd rather just reinvest in him.

That's fair. The only Marshall-specific thing we've delved into, really, is Smitty's Jrue Holiday idea and I admit I also don't love that one. I'm not really sure what's better about letting one big contract expire at season's end (Holiday) vs. letting two smaller ones expire (Marshall and Thompson), and I'm equally unsure that it's advantageous to shop one big expiring at the deadline rather than two medium sized ones. In fact, I think the latter is better for TDL purposes, probably (assuming Thompson isn't bought out). 

I guess there's a little more reason to talk about a 2-for-1 like that now that they need to create a roster spot, but they could also just buy Thompson out, among a dozen other solutions.

[Chicagojk]

That's fair. The only Marshall-specific thing we've delved into, really, is Smitty's Jrue Holiday idea and I admit I also don't love that one. I'm not really sure what's better about letting one big contract expire at season's end (Holiday) vs. letting two smaller ones expire (Marshall and Thompson), and I'm equally unsure that it's advantageous to shop one big expiring at the deadline rather than two medium sized ones. In fact, I think the latter is better for TDL purposes, probably (assuming Thompson isn't bought out). 

I guess there's a little more reason to talk about a 2-for-1 like that now that they need to create a roster spot, but they could also just buy Thompson out, among a dozen other solutions.

Just one note.  Holiday has a 37 mil option for the following year.  I would expect he picks that up.

[cow]

That's fair. The only Marshall-specific thing we've delved into, really, is Smitty's Jrue Holiday idea and I admit I also don't love that one. I'm not really sure what's better about letting one big contract expire at season's end (Holiday) vs. letting two smaller ones expire (Marshall and Thompson), and I'm equally unsure that it's advantageous to shop one big expiring at the deadline rather than two medium sized ones. In fact, I think the latter is better for TDL purposes, probably (assuming Thompson isn't bought out). 

I guess there's a little more reason to talk about a 2-for-1 like that now that they need to create a roster spot, but they could also just buy Thompson out, among a dozen other solutions.

The ideal scenario would be to take less compensation and include Martin in a 2-for-1.  We still have another year of his services after this season if he opts in.  I get angry just thinking about this.

[Chicagojk]

The ideal scenario would be to take less compensation and include Martin in a 2-for-1.  We still have another year of his services after this season if he opts in.  I get angry just thinking about this.

Yeah, getting off him for a 2 for 1 would be ideal.   He may be able to help teams if he was healthy.  The extra year is tough for teams to swallow especially with guys signing at bargains this year.    But getting off him in a 2-1 trade would be ideal.

[KillerLeft]

Define good?  I think .500 is within reason unless we move Kyrie by the TDL or injuries.

I think .500 is probably out of reach for this team as of right now. Would love to be wrong. I think that's about the best case scenario, and everything would have to break just right, including Kyrie AND Lively health, to reach that level. 

I think it's going to take the first half of this season, at least, to figure out how they even want to try generating offense, especially with a first time NBA coach. The reason I'm ok with that is that all the moves they're making are theoretically helpful no matter what they end up settling on as a plan, and they'll also have loads of ways to play defense no matter how the rotation settles. They're doing smart things. And, don't confuse my lack of belief in May as an IMMEDIATE winner as skepticism over the hire, either. I think he's got a good basketball mind and they've got the right guy. I just don't expect him trying to ride a 19 year old to scare anyone this year. 

Also...they needed a PG and didn't get one (yet). Maybe they couldn't find the right one, and if so, I'm more than happy to give De Larrea that developmental runway and hope he catches on fast as they kick the can to the next transactional window. It beats watching someone like Collin Sexton take the role. Only...if that's the way they're going, I want Risacher in the rotation, too. Maybe Johnson should play 28-32 minutes right off the bat. I want Aldama to get a juicy role. Give me some Ishenko minutes from time to time, even.