Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[SkenfromLMF]

On a side note, let’s say the Mavs managed before camp to do trades that cleared two roster spots. I would expect the prior regimes to resign Powell instead of Seva. If M&M were to do that, I might Tommen myself.

Ah yes, the old autodefenestration induced by the retention of the Canadian Ambassador of Facial Self-Flagellation.

[KillerLeft]

Denver matched the OKC offer for Spencer Jones. Man, Denver is in a rough spot. I can't wait to see how the Peyton Watson thing shakes out. 

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/20815...09525?s=20

[Scott41theMavs]

Denver matched the OKC offer for Spencer Jones. Man, Denver is in a rough spot. I can't wait to see how the Peyton Watson thing shakes out. 

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/20815...09525?s=20

I'm not sure it *can* "shake out" given the Kawhi delay. Even more certain of a mess with Bennedict Mathurin.

[F Gump]

All appreciation your way for what you do here, FGump, but with  all due respect, your speculations are not necessarily M&M’s rules.

Very true. But some concepts are obvious, when we observe how the NBA operates with the harsh limits on extra spending, doncha agree?

Teams that are VERY competitive at the top level, with a title possible if a few things break right, MIGHT push the envelope around A2. Almost all avoid going over, and even shed talent to stay under. OKC. BOS. Maybe DEN. The finances get hard. 

Clear playoff teams might go up to A1 although many will decide to stay under tax line too. They want the ability, if opportunity arises, to add that last difference-making piece. And repeater tax is not fun, so they mostly stay under the tax line, since every year you can avoid tax is a win with long term benefits. 

OTOH the teams in the bottom half of the league, they stay below the tax line (and often FAR below it) to both try to be profitable, retain more cap flexibility, AND to preserve the tax years and extra contracts for when it matters. Sure, the Adelsons can afford tax, but as a business under NBA rules, it is not smart to go there. I trust MU is smart to pick his spots wisely and discriminately.

I dont argue that in theory, there can be an exception. But I think the ideas being discussed are MILES away from that level, including the one proposed that was said to be "perfectly acceptable" despite jumping well over the tax line for a rent a player. No.

As I see it based on how NBA teams seem to be operating, the Mavs thinking on paying tax MIGHT change for a move that would definitely elevate them to instant contender status, or assure a huge change in long term trajectory. But rent a players or randos whose purpose is mostly to solve a roster crunch or somewhat bolster a weaker position is not that.

The time WILL COME when they begin to be TRULY competitive, and opportunity arises to add a key, core, ongoing piece at a financial cost that might include tax. THEN is the time (which isnt likely to arise for 2-3 years as they develop) to consider a bit of tax, and one hit on the repeater tax board, as "reasonable." But certainly not now.

[F Gump]

Denver matched the OKC offer for Spencer Jones. Man, Denver is in a rough spot. I can't wait to see how the Peyton Watson thing shakes out. 

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/20815...09525?s=20

My guess is that DEN will sign Watson unless they can work a SNT with very little salary coming back, and its hard to imagine THAT trade given the NBA landscape. 

However, once the Watson deal is resolved, I can see them working to move either Braun or Cam Johnson, to try to mitigate the tax bill to some extent. 

It's possible they could even play it out until the TDL and if everyone is playing well, keep it all intact and eat the tax. Kroenke is MEGA wealthy. Given the presence of Jokic in his prime, with the clock ticking, this might be the right time for an owner to bite the bullet, because a title is perhaps in reach, and probably wont get easier in a future year.

[loki]

My guess is that DEN will sign Watson unless they can work a SNT with very little salary coming back, and its hard to imagine THAT trade given the NBA landscape. 

However, once the Watson deal is resolved, I can see them working to move either Braun or Cam Johnson, to try to mitigate the tax bill to some extent. 

It's possible they could even play it out until the TDL and if everyone is playing well, keep it all intact and eat the tax. Kroenke is MEGA wealthy. Given the presence of Jokic in his prime, with the clock ticking, this might be the right time for an owner to bite the bullet, because a title is perhaps in reach, and probably wont get easier in a future year.

Stein is reporting that Denver's initial offer to Watson was $70M/4. That's so far off what he wanted that I think it's a real possibility he takes the QO. That could come back to haunt him, but we've seen players make bigger mistakes.

If Watson does take the $70M/4 deal, I'd be looking at 3 team trades where Naji goes to Denver to replace Cam Johnson. That would offset most of Watson's starting salary so their tax bill doesn't blow up, and it could allow Dallas to deal for whichever guard they're targeting.

[Mavs2021]

Stein is reporting that Denver's initial offer to Watson was $70M/4. That's so far off what he wanted that I think it's a real possibility he takes the QO. That could come back to haunt him, but we've seen players make bigger mistakes.

If Watson does take the $70M/4 deal, I'd be looking at 3 team trades where Naji goes to Denver to replace Cam Johnson. That would offset most of Watson's starting salary so their tax bill doesn't blow up, and it could allow Dallas to deal for whichever guard they're targeting.

I think I´d take three years with a player option. In this market 17.5M is not a bad deal for basically playing well for six months. Gives you financial security and you work it from there. Who is going to offer him much more in this market? 

Marshall to Denver, Cam Johnson + 2nd round pick to Dallas and Martin to a 3rd team for two 2nd round picks to be paid by Denver seems a reasonable deal.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Dallas currently has 16 players on its roster on standard contracts, one above the in-season maximum, but I'm told veteran center Dwight Powell and his representatives have maintained a dialogue with the club in hopes that he still factors into their plans somehow. The 35-year-old, who became a Maverick in December 2014 as part of the Rajon Rondo trade, has been hoping to play at least one more season.

marcstein.substack.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Thunder can't trade for Spencer Jones for one calendar year. They're $6.9 million under the second apron & regain their $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception. They could use it to sign another player. They could also use their TPEs to trade for a player under contract.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Philadelphia 76ers have been looking for a trade for Johni Broome. If they can’t find one, the team may waive and stretch Broome’s salary. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won't clear waivers until tomorrow. The Sixers have time to work out the move to clear room to sign KCP. In a corresponding move, Philadelphia waived Dalen Terry to clear salary below the first apron hard cap to sign James. Philadelphia is $2,012,784 below the first apron. This does not include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 1 year veteran exception= $2,449,421

x.com

[Mavs2021]

Dallas currently has 16 players on its roster on standard contracts, one above the in-season maximum, but I'm told veteran center Dwight Powell and his representatives have maintained a dialogue with the club in hopes that he still factors into their plans somehow. The 35-year-old, who became a Maverick in December 2014 as part of the Rajon Rondo trade, has been hoping to play at least one more season.

marcstein.substack.com

The audacity of this charity case to still ask for a contract, when there are 16 players under contract and they are going young. Four years at Stanford and he still can´t do 1+1. This really pisses me off more than it should.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Bobby Marks: Unlike his prior stops in Cleveland and the LA Lakers, LeBron James was not allowed to include a No Trade Clause in his contract with Philadelphia. NTC rule: 8 years in the NBA and 4 years with the signing team. Contract breakdown 2026-27: $3,876,529 2027-28: $4,070,355 (P)

x.com

[Chicagojk]

Any potential for a Miami three team trade where they wind up with both Klay and Martin? I assume we are stuck with Martin. Maybe one of the teams that would gamble on him is Miami. He played well there before and Miami needs bodies. Maybe Martin is just a body now, but maybe Miami can work their magic again

[omahen]

Bobby Marks: Unlike his prior stops in Cleveland and the LA Lakers, LeBron James was not allowed to include a No Trade Clause in his contract with Philadelphia. NTC rule: 8 years in the NBA and 4 years with the signing team. Contract breakdown 2026-27: $3,876,529 2027-28: $4,070,355 (P)

x.com

Philly would be ultimate "badasses" if they would dare to trade LeBron. He is quite a positive contract at vet min and some win-now team could decide to pay a premium for him. GSW could be willing to offer a couple of FRPs  That would be quite a blow to the King and his ego

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Isaac Okoro – It’s easy to forget what Okoro brought to the Bulls last season, usually assigned the task of trying to slow down the opposing team’s best scorer. Now he will get a chance to do that for the second unit, becoming a leading trade candidate because of his expiring contract.

Chicago Sun-Times

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Tracy McGrady: 'My duo, I'm going LaMelo Ball and Ant-Man. I'm going LaMelo because LaMelo is very entertaining; he's flashy, and then Ant-Man, what he brings to the table with the swag... I think the two together, man, it's just going to be fun to watch, very exciting. They're going to be going at dudes next on that basketball court and talking sh*t, doing it, taking names. I think the excitement that we're going to see from both of them is going to be something special to watch this year.'

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

League sources say Watson, like Detroit's Jalen Duren, has been weighing the unappealing prospect of playing out the 2026-27 season on a qualifying offer with the intent to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Actually, doing so, mind you, means leaving millions on the table.

marcstein.substack.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

There has been no change in Kyrie Irving's status in Dallas from what we reported on June 12. The Mavericks have continued to rebuff trade feelers for the 34-year-old who has nine career All-Star nods. The working expectation since our report last month is that Irving should begin next season in Dallas alongside Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg to at last launch his long-awaited comeback from knee surgery in late March 2025.

marcstein.substack.com

[Chicagojk]

Dallas currently has 16 players on its roster on standard contracts, one above the in-season maximum, but I'm told veteran center Dwight Powell and his representatives have maintained a dialogue with the club in hopes that he still factors into their plans somehow. The 35-year-old, who became a Maverick in December 2014 as part of the Rajon Rondo trade, has been hoping to play at least one more season.

marcstein.substack.com

Not rally surprised.  There were reports that some of the new players wanted the number that Dwight has and they were told that number is already taken.  

I would put the odds that Powell is not back.   Although this tells me Dallas is still looking at 2-1, 3-1, 3-2 type of deals and are keeping their options open.   It appears they are very deliberate and keep doors open until they close.  Once they pick a path they are pretty aggressive but until then they are good keeping their cards.

Having Powell as your 14/15th man is not the worst thing.    I just think the odds are probably against him being back next year.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will clear waivers tomorrow. Reminder of the Sixers' options to free up first-apron room for him... - Waive-and-stretch Johni Broome (incur seven ~$300K cap hits) - Trade Johni Broome - Waive Jabari Walker (incur $250K dead cap hit) - Trade Jabari Walker

bsky.app