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

[omahen]

I don’t necessarily like this trade from any of the teams perspective 

Hawks: CP3 and 10th pick

Mavs: Ayton and 15th pick

Suns: Collins, THJ, Bullock, Mcgee

Hawks buy out CP3. Get off Collins long term money. Move up from 15 to 10. Save about $5 million off 23-24 and get under the 1st apron. I think Collins is the guy they would like to move over Capella. They don’t get better next year though

Mavs get a big. Keep a pick. Save a few million off 23-24. But we add a potentially bad contract on a guy with a questionable motor and questionable playoff skills

Suns add depth. Get off the Ayton deal. Roughly break even on salaries. But who is their starting PG and C? And how do they aquire them? Still in an unfavorable cap situation

I think this is a good trade for Phoenix, although Collins overlaps with Durant. Could they survive playing him as a small ball centre? I am not sure Atlanta is so desperate to just dump Collins. They don't need CP3. But this could be probably easily solved, if CP3 is not part of the deal with THJ going to Atlanta instead of Phoenix. Also, I don't think Bullock is popular in Phoenix, I think they would prefer Kleber, who could play starting centre. Perhaps a bit of change:

Mavs: Ayton, Shamet, #15 (looking next season numbers: 42.5 mil incoming, 35 outgoing)
Atlanta: THJ, #10 (18 incoming, 25 outgoing)
Phoenix: Collins, Kleber, McGee (42 incoming, 42 outgoing)

Mavs get a starting centre and THJ replacement while keeping a solid pick for either drafting or trading for another player. There would be an even bigger hole at big wing position to fill. Atlanta saves money while gets some shooting. Phoenix gets solid depth.