Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

Zero interest for me. There are two names that I wouldn't mind seeing them add as the last Two-Way: Walter Clayton Jr. or Koby Brea.

I am hoping for Clayton.   He might be awful.  IMO at some point they will need to bring a ball handler in on a two way.  They are woefully short and that is with being healthy.    They need a break glass in case of emergency guy.  They have needed this player a lot the past two seasons.   

I don't think Knecht is very good.    Pretty indifferent it if was between him, Brea, and Lundy though.   Again, they need at least one guy who can run an offense on a two way imo.

[SkenfromLMF]

I know this will be a bit against the grain, BUT if you have a bit of doubt regarding Morez Johnson's ability to play 82 games while Lively is unavailable, then one of the 2-ways HAS to be a C...

OR you think that Naji can play that position too.

[Smitty]

I know this will be a bit against the grain, BUT if you have a bit of doubt regarding Morez Johnson's ability to play 82 games while Lively is unavailable, then one of the 2-ways  HAS to be a C...

OR you think that Naji can play that position too.

That's a LOT of resources to throw at the front court. At some point it'd be nice to not have to think about roster building based on certain players lack of availability. Either way, you have Aldama, and PJ can play some. Even Coop in a pinch. Small-ball/5-out will still be a thing this year.

Guards: Kyrie, Sergio, Sasser
Wings: Flagg, PJW, Max, Naji, Risacher, Martin, Tarik, Lawal, Howard
Bigs: Gafford, Aldama, Morez, Cisse, Lively


Adding Lundy would be yet another Wing. That's why I like Clayton or Brea for the last spot. They're not difference makers or anything, but they will have a real path to playing time. I don't think another Wing or Big is the way to go.

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.

[KillerLeft]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.

Good sign that they're bargain hunting for guards, I suppose. I don't know if they just couldn't find the right guy this summer or if they thought they had enough in that area and have since realized their mistake, but I think using this year as a revolving door audition season for guards is one of the more productive approaches they could take. 

I don't really know much about this, specific, player. Do we like him?

[Moviemavguy]

I'm pretty surprised about Kevin Porter Jr. But I mean, if Mil doesn't want him, then he must just be an empty stats player because otherwise he would be a good get.

Clayton Jr is worth a flier on, and I'm guessing it's our last two way.

[KillerLeft]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.

The highlights (I know, I know) make it seem like he's a pick-and-roll ball handler with size and three level scoring ability. This is a good swing. I hope it works out.

[Smitty]

Good sign that they're bargain hunting for guards, I suppose. I don't know if they just couldn't find the right guy this summer or if they thought they had enough in that area and have since realized their mistake, but I think using this year as a revolving door audition season for guards is one of the more productive approaches they could take. 

I don't really know much about this, specific, player. Do we like him?

I liked him a lot in the draft. Wanted the Mavs to trade back into the first round to get him. In college he was a really good outside shooter. Was a big reason they won the Championship. He wasn't very good his rookie year. As a two-way, for a guard needy team? We like him!

Go watch him against Tech and Auburn last year in the elite 8 and final 4.

[Smitty]

@TheSteinLine
The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.

@TheSteinLine
Dallas currently has a full 15 standard contracts but also an open two-way roster spot after its recent release of John Poulakidas.

I'm told Dusty May has a pre-existing relationship with Clayton after recruiting him in college. Clayton must clear waivers Wednesday at 5 PM ET.


@TheSteinLine
The Kings also covet Walter Clayton Jr. after pursuing him via trade over the weekend, but league sources say it is understood now is that the former No. 18 overall pick is likely to land in Dallas if he clears waivers.

[JamesConway816]

That seems like a really solid pickup given the current roster

I am pretty optimistic that he will get his chances to play. Much clearer path to
minutes for a PG than for instance on the wing.

Like Nembhard last year.

[Knutsen]

That seems like a really solid pickup given the current roster

I am pretty optimistic that he will get his chances to play. Much clearer path to
minutes for a PG than for instance on the wing.

Like Nembhard last year.

Wrote it already a couple of pages ago - 4 assists in 20 minutes is super solid. Shooting numbers are really bad, but if he finds some efficiency watch out. Being 23 years old there’s also the possibility of real development, especially being on a team with grandmaster Kyrie.

Edit: looking at his splits in Memphis it’s actually 5.7 assists in 25 minutes in 24 games - impressive!

[cow]

We released John Pull A Three For Us? Sadness.

Clayton has really nice touch.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Michael Scotto: The Utah Jazz will waive two-way forward Blake Hinson; league sources told @hoopshype. Hinson averaged 11.9 points on 51.3% shooting from the field and 46.8% from the 3-point range in 14 games for the Jazz last season.

x.com

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN.

[windjc]

Pots is no joke. If that’s true and it’s severe, his career is probably over.

Basically when you stand up the veins in your legs contract pushing blood back towards your head so that you don’t faint. It’s the sympathetic nervous system. With Pots this stops happening meaning your heart has to constantly work much harder. I can’t imagine being a professional athlete and trying to overcome this.

[KillerLeft]

@ShamsCharania
Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN.

Wowowowowowow

So the team with the most access to him as a free agent got conned into gifting him $40 million, guaranteed over two seasons and now the entire world realizes he's never going to suit up for them again...and they're hoping someone will just magically agree to take that contract off of their hands???!!!

I mean, I suppose they might be able to move him in a package for one of the 5 worst deals in the NBA or something crazy like that, but my GOODNESS do they have egg on their face right about now!

Also, at what point can everyone involved, the league, players union, whomever, admit that some of these fully guaranteed deals are hurting the product? I'm not saying the NBA should go full NFL with its contracts (the opposite is happening, honestly), but in situations like THIS, the team should have some recourse. They probably do in terms of real-world dollars, but I mean with the CAP.

[windjc]

Wowowowowowow

So the team with the most access to him as a free agent got conned into gifting him $40 million, guaranteed over two seasons and now the entire world realizes he's never going to suit up for them again...and they're hoping someone will just magically agree to take that contract off of their hands???!!!

I mean, I suppose they might be able to move him in a package for one of the 5 worst deals in the NBA or something crazy like that, but my GOODNESS do they have egg on their face right about now!

Also, at what point can everyone involved, the league, players union, whomever, admit that some of these fully guaranteed deals are hurting the product? I'm not saying the NBA should go full NFL with its contracts (the opposite is happening, honestly), but in situations like THIS, the team should have some recourse. They probably do in terms of real-world dollars, but I mean with the CAP.

You seem upset.

[KillerLeft]

You seem upset.

I'm dumbfounded. I can't even imagine how irate I'd be if I was a GS fan. It's like they aimed a shotgun right at their own feet and pulled the trigger. I'm trying to remember anything like this and nothing immediately comes to mind. Unreal.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN.

@ShamsCharania
Porzingis is on a trade-flexible contract for $20 million this season and a small partial next year, serving as essentially an expiring deal that the Warriors can utilize, potentially with their pool of assets. He first revealed his POTS diagnosis last year and has had ups and and downs with the issue. If there is no breakthrough in recovery, stepping away from basketball -- for good -- is possible.

[cow]

Wowowowowowow

So the team with the most access to him as a free agent got conned into gifting him $40 million, guaranteed over two seasons and now the entire world realizes he's never going to suit up for them again...and they're hoping someone will just magically agree to take that contract off of their hands???!!!

I mean, I suppose they might be able to move him in a package for one of the 5 worst deals in the NBA or something crazy like that, but my GOODNESS do they have egg on their face right about now!

Also, at what point can everyone involved, the league, players union, whomever, admit that some of these fully guaranteed deals are hurting the product? I'm not saying the NBA should go full NFL with its contracts (the opposite is happening, honestly), but in situations like THIS, the team should have some recourse. They probably do in terms of real-world dollars, but I mean with the CAP.

I'm probably traumatized by KP's tenure here, well, we probably all are, but I can't wrap my head around the contracts he continued to get after the deal he signed with us ran out.  Even when he is healthy, I get irrationally angry watching him play basketball.

I do agree with your sentiment about NFL contracts and NBA contracts in that there should be a happy middle ground there somewhere though I wouldn't want the NBA infected with all the creative accounting that is done on the NFL side.  And a bit of an aside, but I have been thinking/wishing the NBA would adopt a policy regarding trading future draft picks that was more akin to the NFL (3 years forward).