2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Agreed, I've been saying for months that RFA's don't move. And since there are no good UFA's - ours are the best on the market - the only way to improve is via trade and the MLE.

 

hey that’s my friend.

 

Some trades I like if teams want to save the 7.5m extra in cap space we can take back in a trade and also get off long term salary:

Denver - I think if we take one of their guys, we could do it without draft picks to help them sign Watson. They'd be keen to take Ayton as a backup C to Jokic and cut Valancunias

- Christian Braun (21.5) & S&T Spencer Jones (5) for Vando (12.4) & Ayton (8.1)

- Cam Johnson (23) & S&T Spencer Jones (5) for S&T Rui (18) & Knecht (4.2)

- Aaron Gordon (32) & S&T Spencer Jones (5) for S&T Rui (18), Ayton (8.1) & Knecht (4.2)

OKC - if they want to dump Kenrich & Sorber for some draft compensation and/or get another shooter in Rui

- Kenrich (7.1) & Sorber (4.9) for Jake (6) + 2nd + Swap

- Dort (17.7) & Sorber (4.9) for S&T Rui (16) + 2nd + Swap

- Caruso (19.5) & Sorber (4.9) for S&T Rui (17) + 2nd + Swap

Orlando - if they want to get off Suggs and/or Isaac long term salary

- Suggs (32.4) & Isaac (14.5) for S&T Rui (19), Vando (12.4) & Ayton (8.1) + 2nd

- Suggs (32.4) for S&T Kennard (14.7), Jake (6) & Knecht (4.2) + 2nd

Cavs

- Allen (28) for S&T Rui (20.5) + 1st

- Allen (28) & Merrill (9.2) for S&T Rui (17.4), Ayton (8.1) & Knecht (4.2) + 1st

 

IMO, I think he likely ends up here. Probably isn't our first option, but I don't want to be stuck with an overpaid Turner.

 

Mitchell really fits an archetype what we are trying to do. I don’t give a f*** I’m going to play him in the 4th Quarter.

see were making progress. Cam Carr Mitchell Robinson we’re winning already.

bring Ayton back at a good rate. Get your offense with Ayton and defense with Robinson.

Finish your games with Robinson. It’s the towns Knicks effect.

Abeer were almost there.

Luka/Brunson

Reaves/Brunson/Shai


Adou Thiero/OG/Lebron OG

Carr/Bridges


Ayton/Towns

Mitch Robinson /Hayes


Bronny Smart Rui Kennard


I really like how you can match this team with versatility.

it’s up to JJ to coach them up and make them. Work put in an innovative system.

 

if it's us and the nets for robinson, don't they just offer $1 over the mle? if we go under the cap to get him, we lose either rui or lebron, and that's not worth it to me. you can probably trade for a robinson-level center.

then again, apparently, we can't trade for any center ever.

 

I like Rudy Gobert

 

this one was a foregone conclusion months ago, right? i never even considered him available.

 

The writing has been on the wall for this the whole time. He was their 2nd or 3rd most important player depending if you think Chet was better than him this year. Shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, I've been saying for months that they would reup Hartenstein at less per year for a longer term. They save 5m per on his contract. They're now 5m away from being under the second apron with bringing everyone back.

The only question is do they want to retain Dort as well at a lower salary - he would absolutely sign for 5m less with more years because he is desperate to come back - or do they sell on him now?

 

yeah, i could see dort going either way. this is what i figured would happen for them this offseason.

so they bring back the team at a higher price.

next year, it's ajay mitchell and cason wallace up for HUGE raises.

 

If Ajay & Cason show growth this year, I think next year they trade JDubb for 3-4 picks and a good player back from an average organisation where the picks will be valuable. Ajay starts and Wallace covers the rest of the minutes.

I'm envious of their position, they're setting up as well as you could be under this new CBA. That doesn't guarantee sustained excellence because of the 2nd Apron, but they've got the best chance to be competitive for a straight decade out of any team in the NBA. Hats off to Presti.

I would call them up and see if they want to do Caruso & Sorber for Rui + 1st today.

We then just need to use Vando, Ayton & Knecht to bring something back. Dream scenario would be Aaron Gordon.

Luka / Kennard / Bronny
Reaves / Carr
Smart / Caruso / Jake
Lebron / Gordon / Adou
Sorber / Robinson / Hayes

 

I wonder if the mitchell robinson courting is a way to get the jazz to budge.

I like both guys for the Lakers

 

Hot take. Lebron is heading to Miami in a sign and trade. Lakers will get Wiggins

 

It was, but there was also a pie in the sky idea out there that if they ask him to take a paycut and we come in with something obscene that's too good to turn down, he takes the bag.

Elsewhere...
What concerns me about our backup big options of Williams and Robinson is who's also in the mix. Boston linked to Williams, him returning to the team that drafted him where he spent the first five years of his career. Not the easiest thing to compete with. Then with Robinson, he's lived in New York for 8 years. If he's a New Yorker now, being able to stay put and play 6 miles away from his old arena, still be a hero in the city, (he's the longest tenured Knick on the current roster) like all of the players from this championship team...that's also tough to compete with.

Keeps getting uglier by the day.


Some of the league wide stuff today...


Who can come to the table with that kind of offer other than OKC or SA? Spurs fit would be really interesting.


There's my answer for what they wanted if they valued Herb at 2 firsts. If you have players worth of five first round picks shouldn't you be a better team?


If we're going to ask one of the RFA teams...
https://clip.cafe/blade-ii-2002/hmm...D8A4VMFcQqPGSVIE-n4H7t7PrXgRQuh9Psm1wJH-03GCx

I'd rather ask Ainge if he can blush. I think Kessler is the better fit, his max is less, and either way it hurts a team in our conference. I'd gladly take either at whatever it takes to get either of them, but my preference would be WK.

 

what can Lakers offer

 

The tier situation are hurting teams

 

Lots of centers are locked up:

Ware
Claxton
Naz Reid
Isaiah Stewart
Hartenstein
Mark Williams
Al Horford

Walker Kessler - RFA
Duren - RFA

Robert Williams is being eyed by the C Bags.
Mitch Robinson by the nets.

Potential options still include guys like Gafford, Missi, or other like options via trade.

The two UFA backup guys are still available but I imagine they sign straight away at the start of free agency. above, the two RFA’s and

Ayton coming back as the starter isn’t so far fetched right now.

Still maintain Claxton and Stewart were our guys and we shouldn’t go the RFA route.