Summer 2026 Trade/FA Thread

[somuchyummy]

I wonder if Prince signed because his neck is not quite right. That sounded bad (herniated disc), and kept him out four full months and 55 games. He might be feeling good about not having to pass a trade physical - or prove it to a FA suitor.

[Mnwild1128]

My guess is the Blazers are now out on Brown and in on Murphy.

[Mnwild1128]

I wonder if Prince signed because his neck is not quite right. That sounded bad (herniated disc), and kept him out four full months and 55 games. He might be feeling good about not having to pass a trade physical - or prove it to a FA suitor.

Guaranteed $$$

[somuchyummy]

I wonder what it would take to sign Dieng. He's interesting because of his versatility. He's played SF, PF and C as a pro. Has some upside as a playmaker too. Kind of like those guys - like Kyle - who could handle a number of different roles in a pinch. A downside could be his weight - overall he's built really similar to Jaden - 6-9 185 lbs 7-0 WS - I'd generally look to add a bit more bulk. On the other hand, having a bunch of 6-9/6-10 guys flying around defending has its upside too.

[SHAFA]

I wonder what it would take to sign Dieng. He's interesting because of his versatility. He's played SF, PF and C as a pro. Has some upside as a playmaker too. Kind of like those guys - like Kyle - who could handle a number of different roles in a pinch.

Makes you wonder if Milwaukee’s just doing with Dieng what they did with Rollins last summer.

[somuchyummy]

It doesn't always work out this way - but you do wonder if Dieng is going to become one of those guys - especially green intl guys - who just needed extra time to find their footing - but once they've got that, they take off. He's played three years in the NBA - but just turned 23 in May. That's a pretty young fella to make the initial leap. 11th overall pick at age 19.

[YBBR]

That Jerami Grant contract is really bad. I would pay Jerami Grant that money 100 times before I move him for Ja Morant. That's crazy. Portland's out of their minds.

[Beef Supreme]

C Colin Castelton gets a QO from Orlando - making him an RFA.

Jamaree Bouyea and Jamal Cain both exercise their small options to stick with Phoenix and Orlando.

Taurean Prince takes his $3.82M option to stay with the Bucks.

Utah declines Bez Mbeng's option - as does Miami with Jahmir Young.

Denver picks up Jalen Pickett's option - as does Charlotte with Pat Connaughton.

The Clippers decline Nic Batum's $5.9M option.

From a financial standpoint is weird that Taurean Prince would opt in at $3.82 million. That is the league min and the opt in is just for one year. Unless there is something wrong with him he could get that salary easily and he could get two years on a new vet min contract. I think he could even have some interest in a biannual exception level contract or even some parts of a MLE deal, getting more money and more years. Maybe the Bucks will extend him after the opt in?

Sad note to see Nic Batum there. He was a forum darling in my early days on the KFAN site. And then we signed him to an offer sheet when he was a restricted free agent in 2012. Of course Portland matched it but it was exciting times indeed. 18 years in the NBA, he will be 38 this season. It looks like it might be over for Nic. He is one of 6 players left from the 2008 NBA Draft, the last Kevin McHale ran as the Wolves GM. (Westbrook, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Nic Batum, and 2nd rounder DeAndre Jordan the oldest drafted 2nd rounder).

There are 4 players left from 2007 draft: Durant, Horford, Conley, Jeff Green.
1 from the 2006 draft: Kyle Lowry
1 from 2005: Chris Paul
None from 2004
1 from 2003 : Lebron James

It will be interesting to see how many of them return for 2026-27. Paul is done. I think Lowry is too. Batum, Gordon, Jordan, Conley, Jeff Green, and Kevin all seem to have reached the point of being done.

That was the draft we originally took OJ Mayo.


I remember some Froob (then, “Rube”) reported the trade before it broke. Social media not quite being what it is now back then, I laughed. No way we’d trade OJ Mayo for Kevin Love.

Oops.


Turns out it was the right move. Love wasn’t perfect, but he was pretty good. And Mayo had a very disappointing career.

[Beef Supreme]

I wonder what it would take to sign Dieng. He's interesting because of his versatility. He's played SF, PF and C as a pro. Has some upside as a playmaker too. Kind of like those guys - like Kyle - who could handle a number of different roles in a pinch. A downside could be his weight - overall he's built really similar to Jaden - 6-9 185 lbs 7-0 WS - I'd generally look to add a bit more bulk. On the other hand, having a bunch of 6-9/6-10 guys flying around defending has its upside too.

Froobs could bust out their old Gorgui jerseys.

[SHAFA]

That Jerami Grant contract is really bad. I would pay Jerami Grant that money 100 times before I move him for Ja Morant. That's crazy. Portland's out of their minds.

He’s kinda one of those guys now who, on the right team, you could have him play out the year and maybe get him to opt out next summer in lieu of a more reasonable rate.

[SHAFA]

C Colin Castelton gets a QO from Orlando - making him an RFA.

Jamaree Bouyea and Jamal Cain both exercise their small options to stick with Phoenix and Orlando.

Taurean Prince takes his $3.82M option to stay with the Bucks.

Utah declines Bez Mbeng's option - as does Miami with Jahmir Young.

Denver picks up Jalen Pickett's option - as does Charlotte with Pat Connaughton.

The Clippers decline Nic Batum's $5.9M option.

From a financial standpoint is weird that Taurean Prince would opt in at $3.82 million. That is the league min and the opt in is just for one year. Unless there is something wrong with him he could get that salary easily and he could get two years on a new vet min contract. I think he could even have some interest in a biannual exception level contract or even some parts of a MLE deal, getting more money and more years. Maybe the Bucks will extend him after the opt in?

Sad note to see Nic Batum there. He was a forum darling in my early days on the KFAN site. And then we signed him to an offer sheet when he was a restricted free agent in 2012. Of course Portland matched it but it was exciting times indeed. 18 years in the NBA, he will be 38 this season. It looks like it might be over for Nic. He is one of 6 players left from the 2008 NBA Draft, the last Kevin McHale ran as the Wolves GM. (Westbrook, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Nic Batum, and 2nd rounder DeAndre Jordan the oldest drafted 2nd rounder).

There are 4 players left from 2007 draft: Durant, Horford, Conley, Jeff Green.
1 from the 2006 draft: Kyle Lowry
1 from 2005: Chris Paul
None from 2004
1 from 2003 : Lebron James

It will be interesting to see how many of them return for 2026-27. Paul is done. I think Lowry is too. Batum, Gordon, Jordan, Conley, Jeff Green, and Kevin all seem to have reached the point of being done.

That was the draft we originally took OJ Mayo.


I remember some Froob (then, “Rube”) reported the trade before it broke. Social media not quite being what it is now back then, I laughed. No way we’d trade OJ Mayo for Kevin Love.

Oops.


Turns out it was the right move. Love wasn’t perfect, but he was pretty good. And Mayo had a very disappointing career.

As it stands now, I think I’d prefer to watch a 38-year old Mayo than Ball.

[Hoop Dreams]

I hope Denver doesn't get him.

[mlhouse]

C Colin Castelton gets a QO from Orlando - making him an RFA.

Jamaree Bouyea and Jamal Cain both exercise their small options to stick with Phoenix and Orlando.

Taurean Prince takes his $3.82M option to stay with the Bucks.

Utah declines Bez Mbeng's option - as does Miami with Jahmir Young.

Denver picks up Jalen Pickett's option - as does Charlotte with Pat Connaughton.

The Clippers decline Nic Batum's $5.9M option.

From a financial standpoint is weird that Taurean Prince would opt in at $3.82 million. That is the league min and the opt in is just for one year. Unless there is something wrong with him he could get that salary easily and he could get two years on a new vet min contract. I think he could even have some interest in a biannual exception level contract or even some parts of a MLE deal, getting more money and more years. Maybe the Bucks will extend him after the opt in?

Sad note to see Nic Batum there. He was a forum darling in my early days on the KFAN site. And then we signed him to an offer sheet when he was a restricted free agent in 2012. Of course Portland matched it but it was exciting times indeed. 18 years in the NBA, he will be 38 this season. It looks like it might be over for Nic. He is one of 6 players left from the 2008 NBA Draft, the last Kevin McHale ran as the Wolves GM. (Westbrook, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Nic Batum, and 2nd rounder DeAndre Jordan the oldest drafted 2nd rounder).

There are 4 players left from 2007 draft: Durant, Horford, Conley, Jeff Green.
1 from the 2006 draft: Kyle Lowry
1 from 2005: Chris Paul
None from 2004
1 from 2003 : Lebron James

It will be interesting to see how many of them return for 2026-27. Paul is done. I think Lowry is too. Batum, Gordon, Jordan, Conley, Jeff Green, and Kevin all seem to have reached the point of being done.

That was the draft we originally took OJ Mayo.


I remember some Froob (then, “Rube”) reported the trade before it broke. Social media not quite being what it is now back then, I laughed. No way we’d trade OJ Mayo for Kevin Love.

Oops.


Turns out it was the right move. Love wasn’t perfect, but he was pretty good. And Mayo had a very disappointing career.

I think some of my first posts on Rubechat was on that trade. But I think I was more adamant about the stupidity of trading away high 2nd round picks on a team that had limited talent.

The Mayo trade was important in a deeper way because we got rid of Marko Jaric and his salary and received Mike Miller whom we included in the trade that brought Rubio. I never could understand Kevin's infatuation with Jaric that he traded away an unconditional first round pick and then signed to what for the Wolves at the time, a huge contract extension.

Kevin McHale was actually a very good NBA general manager but he had his faults. I dont think he put the work in and should have hired someone to handle the details, like using draft picks after the 10th selection. Kevin was superb at finding money ball veteran talent and made the team into a playoff level squad after years of utter futility. AS I have said before, if Kevin had retired after the 2003-04 season he would be considered one of th ebetter GMs in NBA history. He took a laughingstock franchise that was lucky to win 22 games and made it into a reasonable playoff team, with 50+ win seasons in 4 out of 5 seasons from 1999-00 to 2003-04. He doesn't get enough credit for the Garnett pick, selecting a high school kid in an era before all of the advanced technology used in scouting today, for making the Marbury draft deal, and then working his way out of the Marbury mess.

[somuchyummy]

Thomas Bryant is back with the Cavs on a one year deal. And guess who wants back into the league? He could be the PF we have been looking for!

Spoiler:

Ben Simmons.

[witljon]

How do Blazers plan on playing all of: Dame, Moron and Scoot? Makes no sense.

I’m sure Damian and Ja will be Portland’s starting backcourt.

[Mnwild1128]

How do Blazers plan on playing all of: Dame, Moron and Scoot? Makes no sense.

I’m sure Damian and Ja will be Portland’s starting backcourt.

Do they know just how bad on defense they both are?

[Mnwild1128]

I hope Denver doesn't get him.

I do. Cause it is really going to cut their depth. And Murray would 100% be going out in the trade. And Nuggets can't take back more salary, so they need to add more.

[Mnwild1128]

If the Pistons had Glenn Taylor as their owner, he woulda looked Duren in the eye, then gotten him signed to his first max coming off his rookie deal. Since his rookie contract he played better overall basketball than someone named Wiggisn. But they did not have Glenn, so now they are at major risk of taking a big step back.

[somuchyummy]

More guys with declined options becoming UFAs for tomorrow's feeding frenzy: Nets W Ochai Agbaji and PF Jalen Wilson. Celtics G Max Shulga and G John Tonje. Lakers PG Nick Smith Jr. Sacramento PG Killian Hayes. Warriors Combo De'Anthony Melton. Clippers G Bradley Beal.

Players who were tendered QOs so will become RFAs: Wizard G Jahmir Watkins, SAS SF David Jones-Garcia and SF Harrison Ingram, and OKC SF Brooks Barnhizer.

[somuchyummy]

the Kings have traded former overall 13 pick Devin Carter and a 2nd round pick to Atlanta - in a straight up salary dump that fits into a trade exception created last year in the Clint Capela trade. Carter has been dinged his entire 2 seasons in the league - just 74 games played - and his shooting has been really bad. But... the kid has big upside as a defensive stopper if he can stay healthy.

[populousample]

Scoot, Dame, and Ja.

[somuchyummy]

Detroit and Sacramento are discussing a possible swap of Duren and Sabonis. I guess money talks. But you've got to question the BB motives of a young player choosing to leave an up and coming EC contender to voluntarily move to the Sacto Gulag.

[SHAFA]

Scoot, Dame, and Ja.

Plus Jrue, and Deni.

[somuchyummy]

Sharpe, Camara and Clingan. And don't forget Hansen (The Ghost of Yao) Yang.

If anything, this trade proves how low the standing of Jerami Grant fell in the last few years. He was kind of a big deal when he landed in Portland - and in his first two years averaged 21 ppg and 40% from deep. Just turned sour. And we were thinking Memphis would be the team having to attach an asset.

[Mnwild1128]

Detroit and Sacramento are discussing a possible swap of Duren and Sabonis. I guess money talks. But you've got to question the BB motives of a young player choosing to leave an up and coming EC contender to voluntarily move to the Sacto Gulag.

Already lost Stew. Losing Duren. Taking a big step back in their defensive identity.

[Catalyst]

Detroit and Sacramento are discussing a possible swap of Duren and Sabonis. I guess money talks. But you've got to question the BB motives of a young player choosing to leave an up and coming EC contender to voluntarily move to the Sacto Gulag.

Some people the lure of Cali is real.

[mlhouse]

Detroit and Sacramento are discussing a possible swap of Duren and Sabonis. I guess money talks. But you've got to question the BB motives of a young player choosing to leave an up and coming EC contender to voluntarily move to the Sacto Gulag.

Some people the lure of Cali is real.

Sacramento has no lure.

[somuchyummy]

Kind of odd to think it has less appeal these days NBAwise than Detroit.

[Mnwild1128]

So for the Wiggins new 3 yr 64 million deal he opted into his 30.2 million option for this season and the remaining 34 million we be paid out over the following 2 seasons.

[bubu dubu.]

Harrison Barnes gets a one year/$8M deal with the Spurs. Seems like a lot actually for what, at this point, is a locker room guy. On the other hand, the Spurs have a load of cheap young talent. One year more with Barnes at that price makes sense.

A guy who has been a starter since entering the league, and 14 years in is still a starter? Thats an absolute bargain.