Best trade target

[DanSchwartzgan]

Just for fun before pre-season starts, lets discuss your favorite target for the last piece (hopefully).  Let say the mavs start the season well, who would your ideal realistic target be now?

Let’s assume the package include Green or Hardy, Hardaway salary filler and a first round pick (maybe a pick swap too).   So who would be your ideal target be?

Good thought provoking question.  My answer, at least for now (and at that price) is no one.  Kind of shocking as I typically love me some fantasy trading.  Part of my answer is based on the idea we could take a bigger swing next summer.

But, the main thing is that I believe the idealized version of Prosper, Lively and Green 'could' eliminate the need for such a trade.  So, I want to see all three of them this next season to see if the idealized version of each is possible and hopefully get a better idea what a timetable might look like.  Here is what I mean...

OG's name comes up a lot.  I think there is some chance we have our OG on this roster already. The D and length with OMax are probably already where they were with OG when he first came into the league.  It isn't like OG set the world on fire offensively to start his career.  He didn't take double digit shot attempts until his 4th season.  So, I'm not ready to give up anything of significance to get OG if we already have a younger version.

The same is true of Lively.  I presume he's further away from the current versions of the centers we talk about so much.  But, I also think he's got a shot at being better than most of them.  We just need to see him in action and just as importantly, watch him progress through the season.

I also think the idealized version of Green is basically Bridges.  He used to draw comparisons to Iggy when Green couldn't hit 3's.  But, Iggy never came close to hitting 40% of his 3's.  Green just played his age 22 season.  Mikal's age 22 season was his rookie year.  

At 22, Green was 9.1 points, 3.0 boards, 1.7 assists and 25.7 minutes per game with a TS% of .645.  
At 22, Mikal was 8.3 points, 3.2 boards, 2.1 assists and 29.5 minutes per game with a TS% of .556.

Mikal was only 9.1 points his age 23 season (the upcoming season for Green) and had six-point-something FG attempts at age 22 and 23 just like Josh did at age 22.  I don't think Josh has the defensive upside that Bridges has, but the offensive progression for the first four seasons is certainly possible (I don't think anyone saw Bridges becoming a 26 point a game player).  

I realize waiting probably means Luka probably doesn't get a a WCF appearance again this season.  We should be more fun to watch and may even pile up some wins.  But, the playoffs are a different beast and I hold no hope these three will be ready to be major players by then.  I think the best possible version of Dallas is a lineup that includes Lively, OMax, Luka, Green and Kyrie as starters meaning two of those guys became good enough to push Williams to the bench.  I'm willing to be patient this season if there is any chance that patience is rewarded with such an outcome.  The good news is if one of the three disappoints, we have the ammunition to upgrade that spot starting next summer.