Trade & FA 2023-24: Stein-Ingram Trade Inevitable| LAL Want Lebron Back On Any Terms

[DanSchwartzgan]

Hayes should definitely be a target for the TPMLE. He actually played some really solid minutes in NO's play in matchup vs OKC. Not sure why they suddenly played him more minutes that game. There were reports of some deal based around Wood & Hayes at this past TDL so there's probably some interest from the Mavs there. Bench big with the potential to become the future starter.

I think Hayes is a pretty good name.  Duffy client.  The Wood deal was probably NO unloading Graham with Hayes as the carrot.  Instead, NO paid San Antonio a bunch of seconds to take Graham for expiring Josh Richardson.  In hindsight, it would be nice to have the Bird rights to Hayes, but an extra $12mm in salary from Graham would have made our cap situation even more challenging.

Hayes would be more of a Center-By-Committee type than a clear cut 30 minute a night starter.  It doesn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t start here.  He could if we spent our assets on a two position player like Draymond who can play alongside Hayes and instead of Hayes.  The question will be whether NO will make the QO and keep him restricted.  The QO is very similar to the TP MLE.  When you count the Pelican’s pick, they sit right on the tax line.  They can drop $5mm below by letting Garrett Temple’s NG go.  The QO for Hayes and the TP MLE would take them $9mm over the tax and over the first apron.  Probably smarter to pick the QO or the TP MLE, but not both.  If they wanted to pay him, they probably wouldn’t have offered him around the league at the TDL.  

If Dallas could get him for the TP MLE instead of trading Wood for Hayes and Graham, passing on the deal would look pretty smart.