TITLE: Trade Market Cools, RFA Options Shrink and Matt Thomas Heads to Besiktas
SLUG: nba-trade-market-rfa-matt-thomas-besiktas
CONTENT:
The Atlanta Hawks’ decision to move Trae Young in the middle of his prime without securing draft assets is still rippling through front offices across the NBA.
Analyst Yossi Gozlan of ThirdApron.com reviewed the transaction while assessing a broader slowdown in trades under the current collective bargaining agreement. According to Gozlan, franchises are guarding draft picks and future flexibility more closely than ever, a trend that could limit the market for other high-profile players—such as Ja Morant—if their teams decide to explore deals.
The prevailing view, Gozlan noted, is that talent alone no longer sets a player’s trade value; contract terms, apron restrictions and long-range roster planning now weigh just as heavily.
Restricted Free Agency Tightens
Last summer’s restricted free-agency period underscored the new caution. In a conversation for The Athletic, writers Joel Lorenzi, Tony Jones and Nick Friedell detailed how limited bidding affected players such as Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes. Teams were hesitant to issue offer sheets that would freeze cap space, leaving many RFAs with reduced leverage and smaller markets.
Matt Thomas Signs in Turkey
On the international front, former NBA guard Matt Thomas, 31, has agreed to join Besiktas GAIN Istanbul for the rest of the EuroLeague season, Eurohoops.net reported. The sharpshooter most recently averaged 14.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists with Spain’s Coviran Granada.
Thomas logged 126 NBA appearances between 2019 and 2022, suiting up for the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls.
Source: Hoops Wire
