Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

[Chicagojk]

Topic is another interesting "bust". Basically never had the chance to play in the NBA. Torn ACL prevented him from playing in his rookie season (24/25) and he missed most of 25/26 after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Still only 21 years old.
Not sure if I would pull the trigger but if OKC is looking for a more reliable rotation player that can help them this season Christie would be a salary match that keeps them under the 2nd apron.

He also had back surgery this summer.  Just a horrendous run of bad luck.   I was thinking about him this summer as a trade using the Mavs MLE.    No assets going out.   I think at this point in time it would be a difficult ask though.   It would be a trust your evaluator type of gamble.   Regardless, he would be an extreme buy low at this point if anyone would take a chance on him.    At the moment, I think most would want to see him on the court a little bit before making a move on him.

[Scott41theMavs]

I don’t think we need picks the most, since Cooper is already so good - you can win with him in the next couple of seasons.

Young, established players with room for further improvement are the best targets - players in the likes of a Wagner. Just as an random example.

I think that, for the Mavs to trade Kyrie, the return is going to have to be simply ridiculous, which is possible if there's all this bidding. The sense that journalists pervasively have that "the Mavs will trade Kyrie because he doesn't fit Cooper's timeline" is increasingly stupid, and it should be a fireable offense for a GM for another team to be so moronically stupid as to think that Kyrie is available cheap on that basis. 

What they (journalists and perhaps GMs) aren't paying attention to and need to pull their heads out about is Cooper's timeline. As others have said, doggonit, his time is right now, and anyone with a brain and their eyes open can see that. If that person is a journalist or team exec and can't see that, they should lose their job, full stop. Cf. the early years of the careers of Bird and Magic. Nothing a team can offer in trade is going to have more synergy, experience, and ability to help Flagg this year, which absolutely matters.

If a team offers a young star, cap relief from Martin, and a great package of first round picks and swaps from '27-'30, that might begin to be worth flushing Coop's title opportunities for this year down the toilet.

[OldMavsFan]

I have never understood why anyone thinks having a team that is all the same age and expecting them to be together for a decade a more makes any since at all.  I guess it worked for year in OKC, but with the salary cap there is really no way to keep a team together for more than 3 years, maybe 4, unless they just are a team that goal is making the play in tourney year after year.  Now does anyone believe that you have 4 or 5 stars and a couple of super stars that all of them will expect star level contracts, this isn't the 50's and 60's.  This isn't to say if I can trade as an example PJW and get a pick and a better player and/or contract and the player is still on a rookie contract I would maybe make the move and if you think he is a better fit  for what the team needs, but not just to get a few years younger.  

Since we now have a bit of a feel for what the Mavs and Dusty are trying to build, you can make a guess that some of the team doesn't fit with their vision and since they seem to want very active players, then maybe younger is better over let's say Hardaway or Klay who seems to only be able to shot 3s and act as cones for the other team to go around on defense.

Mavs have a real chance to be 7 and 3 after 10 games and my thinking before the season started that if they were not to far under 500 starting January that they had a real shot at making it to at least 8th and the play in, but through some luck of having play their first game and score like crazy and the Thunder and the end of their title chase in one game, the Mavs have a shot at a special season and maybe the beginning of a decade plus of being a contender every year.

So unless they can find a player that is better than Kyrie now, he needs to be the Robin to Coop's Batman.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I bet if the first sentence from the other GM doesn't start with 5 first round picks they get cussed, hung up on, and their number blocked....

Love Kyrie. One of the best ball handlers and clutch shot makers in league history. But at this point in his career and coming off a serious injury, I don't think he commands 5 firsts.  He can be had for less.

[michaeltex]

FWIW, Coop's favorite thing is winning and Kyrie is a key factor in this season's wins. Scoring both inside and from Curry type distance. Add in the fact that there is a lot of love/respect circulating between Kyrie and the rest of the team and I think it's going to be really hard for DAL to pull the trigger on moving him for a bunch of future unknowns. Even if they are FRPs. Plus you have to have some amount of salary match ($39.5M) which means you would be taking on another starter-level player, who may or may not fit with Coop and who may have contract demands of their own. Or is an albatross contract that nobody wants (which would drive up draft compensation). Or would require multiple players and the roster turmoil associated with the effort.

The team that is currently dressing out looks great and seems to be pretty competitive, with rotation-level reinforcements on the way (Aldama, Bieber, Lively). As this group grows together over the next few months, there is a chance to exceed expectations and Kyrie's leadership is going to be an important factor in that success.

Question for thought...Kyrie has a PO of ~$42M next season. If he makes it past the TDL still wearing Mav blue, do you start extension talks with him? What would be his value over the next 3 years, assuming he's relatively healthy?

[Smitty]

The sense that journalists pervasively have that "the Mavs will trade Kyrie because he doesn't fit Cooper's timeline" is increasingly stupid, and it should be a fireable offense for a GM for another team to be so moronically stupid as to think that Kyrie is available cheap on that basis. 

I have never understood why anyone thinks having a team that is all the same age and expecting them to be together for a decade a more makes any since at all.  I guess it worked for year in OKC, but with the salary cap there is really no way to keep a team together for more than 3 years, maybe 4, unless they just are a team that goal is making the play in tourney year after year.  Now does anyone believe that you have 4 or 5 stars and a couple of super stars that all of them will expect star level contracts, this isn't the 50's and 60's. 

I just love that the Coop "timeline" talk is doing a complete 180 on here. Timeline talk in the NBA is one I've had to learn to ignore. Like OldMavsFan says, this isn't the 50's and 60's NBA. Things change quickly. Not just season to season, but season start... to the TDL... to Summer. There isn't some core group that plays 10+ years together anymore.

Just this week we were talking about the West being OKC and Spurs, then "the rest". Welp, the timeline might have changed for one of those teams...

[mvossman]

I just love that the Coop "timeline" talk is doing a complete 180 on here. Timeline talk in the NBA is one I've had to learn to ignore. Like OldMavsFan says, this isn't the 50's and 60's NBA. Things change quickly. Not just season to season, but season start... to the TDL... to Summer. There isn't some core group that plays 10+ years together anymore.

Just this week we were talking about the West being OKC and Spurs, then "the rest". Welp, the timeline might have changed for one of those teams...

The NBA moves a lot faster now than it used to, but that doesn't mean timelines no longer exist.  There are teams in full rebuild mode (meaning looking for a superstar) teams in win now mode (meaning superstar is at or near the end of prime) and teams with young superstars who have long timelines.  One group should accumulate assets, one group should spend assets on win now players and one group needs to show a more balanced approach.  

OKC has roughly a 5 year window depending on how long Shai stays in his prime.  They have to make some hard decisions about the current season but their timeline has not changed.  

The Mavs are obviously in the third category.  They don't need to be hyper focusing on accumulating assets, but they also don't need to burn all of their future assets on win now players.

[windjc]

Next years draft sucks. Even if we got two top 12 picks from Houston how would that help us? Name me some college players at 8-12 who will equal more than Kyrie? I’ll be over here growing a beard as I wait.

[Smitty]

They don't need to be hyper focusing on accumulating assets, but they also don't need to burn all of their future assets on win now players.

This is also part of the "shift" on here. Which I welcome. 

A month ago, you wouldn't have said the bold. A couple months from now, you might even reword the underlined.

I'm not calling out anyone... Just that 'Cooper timeline' talk is one of my least favorite talking points, and I liked the posts by the two fine gentlemen.


My opinions have changed on what the Mavs may or may not need or what they should or should not do, based on what I see with my own eyes also. They'll probably change again before month's end. More than once. 

[KillerLeft]

The NBA moves a lot faster now than it used to, but that doesn't mean timelines no longer exist.  There are teams in full rebuild mode (meaning looking for a superstar) teams in win now mode (meaning superstar is at or near the end of prime) and teams with young superstars who have long timelines.  One group should accumulate assets, one group should spend assets on win now players and one group needs to show a more balanced approach.  

OKC has roughly a 5 year window depending on how long Shai stays in his prime.  They have to make some hard decisions about the current season but their timeline has not changed.  

The Mavs are obviously in the third category.  They don't need to be hyper focusing on accumulating assets, but they also don't need to burn all of their future assets on win now players.

Yeah, my concern with timeline isn't so much about everyone on the roster being the same age, but rather having the maximum amount of peak, "in their prime" talent AND flexibility when Flagg's rookie deal ends...and when his NEXT deal ends. Basically, you want to be at the high water mark in terms of your roster's ceiling potential right around the time Flagg is entering that 26-32 year old sweet spot of his career. 

That doesn't mean you throw away any chance to be good now, and obviously early returns look like the team has a chance to exceed short term expectations. I think there are a lot of ways to get it "right" from here, and I'm hopeful that Ujiri and Schmidt will choose the right levers to pull.

[KillerLeft]

Bill Simmons already starting the "Flagg and his Mom are huge Celtics fans" nonsense. ALREADY. I get that player movement is the new norm, but I wish we could just enjoy the sport without all of that crap, sometimes.

[Dirknows]

We’re not winning a title this year. I think making the playoffs is a realistic goal and I would consider that a successful season. But title? Come on now.

[mvossman]

This is also part of the "shift" on here. Which I welcome. 

A month ago, you wouldn't have said the bold. A couple months from now, you might even reword the underlined.

I'm not calling out anyone... Just that 'Cooper timeline' talk is one of my least favorite talking points, and I liked the posts by the two fine gentlemen.


My opinions have changed on what the Mavs may or may not need or what they should or should not do, based on what I see with my own eyes also. They'll probably change again before month's end. More than once. 

While there has been some altering of my opinion on this in general, my primary point there was to differentiate them from a team desperately searching for their own superstar.  I still think they should be accumulating assets where it makes sense, and I was never on the trade Kyrie no matter what train.  I did think it made sense if the price is right and my price was lower than some others.  I still think it could make sense, but the price is higher and I think its much less likely than I thought a couple of weeks ago.

[cow]

Bill Simmons already starting the "Flagg and his Mom are huge Celtics fans" nonsense. ALREADY. I get that player movement is the new norm, but I wish we could just enjoy the sport without all of that crap, sometimes.

We still have six or so years before we need to cross that bridge anyway.  Also, stop paying attention to Bill Simmons and your sports life will be much better, at least it worked for me.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Can we trade Naji at the TDL?

Max is the other man out.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

SiriusXM NBA Radio: "The Mavs have consistently told teams they don't even want to field your call." @TheSteinLine tells @BGeltzNBA why Kyrie Irving isn't available. Tim MacMahon on Kyrie Irving: "Going into the season, I would have said more likely than not, he gets moved by the deadline, but I didn't feel super strong about it. The more I see the team, the harder I think it'll be to trade him. There will be a big market, but if they have a chance to compete for a play-in or playoff spot, I think it'll be really tough to move Kyrie. Also, as much as he means to that locker room, and as well as he's working with Cooper, it was beautiful basketball."



x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Michael Scotto: The Milwaukee Bucks will exercise their rookie-scale team options on Kel'el Ware ($7.14 million) and Kasparas Jakucionis ($4.02 million) for the 2027-28 season, league sources told @hoopshype.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Per Shams Charania: Dalen Terry has agreed to a two-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources told ESPN.

Terry enters his fifth NBA season after stints with the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers. The 6-foot-6 swingman spent the offseason training with the Golden State Warriors and went to training camp with the franchise last month.

The deal with Terry comes in the wake of the injury-plagued Thunder's reneged agreement with free agent Ochai Agbaji to fill their open roster spot, with potential season-ending surgeries for Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Can we trade Naji at the TDL?

Max is the other man out.

He's trade restricted until 2/2/27.  The TDL is 2/11/27.

What is strange about Naji so far this season is with the exception of the Houston disaster and the first half of the Indy game, he's been unavailable when we've played well and available when one of Cooper or Kyrie has been out.  He's not the answer when one of them is missing.  But, we don't really have a sample as to what he looks like when both are available.

When I talk about a consolidation trade, it doesn't have to be for a max player.  We need someone who can hit three's like Max used to do and create for themselves and others like Naji kind of does.  It would be nice if that person had SG size.  Maybe that is eventually Larry - though I worry about his D.  

Maybe Clayton is part of the answer.  They don't seem the least bit worried about burning his NBA allotment of games - he has 44 left.  If he continues to dress for every game, he will run out of games on February 9th.  That's right ahead of the TDL. A two for one deal opens a slot for him.  Or, if Lively and Aldama are healthy by then, cutting or trading Cisse would open a slot as well.  

Speaking of two-way players, I love how Lawal comes in and scores every time he enters the game.  If you love small sample sizes, his per 36 scoring is 25.2 and his O-Rating is 158. He's hit 50% of his 3's and has a TS% of .700.  His WS/48 is .371 and his BPM is 18.3 and when he's in the game the Mav's are a +51 points.  He may be the best player in NBA history is May wasn't holding him back.  Free Tobi!

[dirkfansince1998]

Maybe Clayton is part of the answer.  They don't seem the least bit worried about burning his NBA allotment of games - he has 44 left.  If he continues to dress for every game, he will run out of games on February 9th.  That's right ahead of the TDL. A two for one deal opens a slot for him.  Or, if Lively and Aldama are healthy by then, cutting or trading Cisse would open a slot as well.  
t holding him back.  Free Tobi!

I like what I have seen but I remember last year when I talked myself into Nembhard and BWill because the Mavs were desperate for a point guard. Probably to early to tell if Clayton is a keeper or just looking good because any kind of guard is better than Flagg as the only ballhandler on the floor or Naji playing PG.