Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Free agent forward Trendon Watford has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN.

In June, the 76ers declined Watford's $2.8 million option for the 2026-27 season. The 25-year-old averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, and notched his first career triple-double with 20 points, a career-high 17 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists. But he struggled all season with his three-point shooting, going 10-for-50 (20%).

Watford, 25, considered multiple options, but for New Orleans he serves as a productive two-way get late into the offseason.

He will enter his sixth NBA campaign.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Michael Scotto: The Houston Rockets and guard Sean Pedulla have agreed to a two-way deal, agent George S. Langberg of @GSLSportsGroup told @hoopshype . Pedulla was the NBA G League Rookie of the Year, averaging 23.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in the G League last season.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: Free agent F Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kevin Gray of DLLS Sports: How confident are you that you're going to be with this roster by the time we get to opening night this year? PJ Washington: Super confident. I've had long talks with Masai, our GM, and the whole team, so I'm super confident I'll be a Maverick. This is where I want to be, so I'm super excited to be here and can't wait to get things going. Have you had a chance to talk with Masai Ujiri and discuss what your plan and your role is going to be with this team this year? PJ Washington: Yeah, definitely. Masai's a great guy. I think he's amazing to be here. He's done amazing things for the organization already, so I spoke to him and my role is going to be a leader. Obviously, going out each and every night. Just being myself, being aggressive both ends of the floor, and trying to lead as much as I can this year using my voice and just be the best vet I can for the young guys.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shamit Dua: Per sources, the Trendon Watford deal is a non-guaranteed minimum. There is a $250k guarantee, which moves up to $500k if he is not waived before the first day of the season. The contract will be fully protected if not waived by Dec 30th. This means he is the 15th roster spot.

bsky.app

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Michael Scotto: The New Orleans Pelicans have waived two-way center Hunter Dickinson, league sources told @hoopshype. The former Michigan and Kansas star averaged 17.6 points on 59% shooting from the field and 39% from 3-point range with 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the G League last season.

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[SleepingHero]

Michael Scotto: The New Orleans Pelicans have waived two-way center Hunter Dickinson, league sources told @hoopshype. The former Michigan and Kansas star averaged 17.6 points on 59% shooting from the field and 39% from 3-point range with 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the G League last season.

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Crazy you can average such good numbers and just get waived. 

League is cutthroat.

[Scott41theMavs]

Unless the Mavs are waiting on the Kawhi thing, I think it's pretty clear they're going to have to buy Klay out. Bummer, but that's the market. Even a great deal-maker and negotiator like Masai can't pull rabbits out of every hat.

[OldMavsFan]

Unless the Mavs are waiting on the Kawhi thing, I think it's pretty clear they're going to have to buy Klay out. Bummer, but that's the market. Even a great deal-maker and negotiator like Masai can't pull rabbits out of every hat.

I imagine they will end up buying out Klay, but Cisse is a much cheaper way to go and Klay may be worth a draft pick at the TDL.  

I expect by the TDL they will be ready to move those players that don't fit in with the new playing style and I expect they will start to make moves for the future.  I would guess that their win/lose record will also be used as a gauge on what needs to be done.  

I do think that as fans we assume we have a clue on how the players fit with each other and work within the new systems and of course who is healthy enough to stay play at a fast pace.  I doubt that who is starters and key players are all the same by years end, so all the chatter over minutes and positions are just WAG.

[Scott41theMavs]

I imagine they will end up buying out Klay, but Cisse is a much cheaper way to go and Klay may be worth a draft pick at the TDL.  

I expect by the TDL they will be ready to move those players that don't fit in with the new playing style and I expect they will start to make moves for the future.  I would guess that their win/lose record will also be used as a gauge on what needs to be done.  

I do think that as fans we assume we have a clue on how the players fit with each other and work within the new systems and of course who is healthy enough to stay play at a fast pace.  I doubt that who is starters and key players are all the same by years end, so all the chatter over minutes and positions are just WAG.

I dislike waiving Cisse because he's our Gafford insurance policy. Hard to trade DG without Cisse on roster.

[DL2RimRocker]

I dislike waiving Cisse because he's our Gafford insurance policy. Hard to trade DG without Cisse on roster.

Agree, and it's hard to trade DG when DL's availability is uncertain.

[omahen]

Denver trading Peyton Watson to Cavs for a FRP and a SRP, Cavs sending Strus to Clippers for nothing. Watson gets 88 mil 4 year deal. Great deal for Cavs, imho. Denver return was meh and it looks like they will be (much) worse next season. I am surprised Clippers didn't get something more for eating Strus.

[Knutsen]

Denver trading Peyton Watson to Cavs for a FRP and a SRP, Cavs sending Strus to Clippers for nothing. Watson gets 88 mil 4 year deal. Great deal for Cavs, imho. Denver return was meh and it looks like they will be (much) worse next season. I am surprised Clippers didn't get something more for eating Strus.

If I‘m Jokic I‘d be pissed. Feels like all those lost Dirk years, the team is clearly good - but also clearly not good enough because they move sideways or back instead of improving.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Chris Haynes: The Denver Nuggets are pivoting and have their eyes on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who remains a free agent in demand by contenders, league sources tell me.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Bobby Marks: For the Clippers, Max Strus's $16.6M expiring contract goes into the $17M John Collins trade exception. Including the $8.7M Benedict Mathurin Qualifying Offer, LAC is $11.7M below the first apron.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Yossi Gozlan: Cleveland Cavaliers salary cap situation with Peyton Watson. They could create a $16.7 million trade exception by folding in the Dennis Schroder trade and absorbing Tre Mann into the Lonzo Ball trade exception. The Cavs have no first-round picks left to trade.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Shams Charania: Denver, Cleveland, and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and agents Lucas Newton and Calvin Andrews finalized the new home Wednesday in a difficult restricted free agency landscape -- with Watson's reps navigating interest and offers from the Bucks, Trail Blazers, and Clippers before narrowing on the guaranteed $88M deal with the Cavaliers.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Bobby Marks: Some notes for Denver - Denver is 1.3M over the 2nd apron and has 2 roster spots open - They will create a trade exception for 50% of PW's salary. However, they are not allowed to use or exceed the 2nd apron because this is a s/t. - The Nuggets had zero tradeable firsts before this trade. Bobby Marks: Notes for Cleveland - Sign-and-trade hard caps them at the first apron - Before re-signing James Harden, they are roughly $29M below the first apron - They have no tradeable firsts available right now. Bobby Marks: For the Clippers, the Max Stus $16.6M expiring contract goes into the $17M John Collins trade exception. Including the $8.7M Benedict Mathurin Qualifying Offer, LAC is $11.7M below the first apron.



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[omahen]

Cavs also sending Mann to Wizzards for Whitmore in this same deal, another imho great move for them. Saves them some money and gets them a player with a lot of potential.

[omahen]

Clippers can give Mathurin some 20 mil and stay under the first apron