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

[Knutsen]

While I do not agree with the whole premise where your response was directed at, I think there is some truth in the Jokic/Murray vs. Luka/Kyrie.   Jokic/Murray a much better positional fit though.  You also need to live in the present.   Jokic has such a positive force while on the court.  I can't really say the same for Luka this year (while this may be unfair due to the burden he is asked to carry).  While they played well with Jokic on the bench this past game, most games they crater when Jokic is not in the game.   But Luka, at his best, is in the same neighborhood as Jokic.

Murray and Kyrie are comparable talents.   Murray is on the upswing though.  While the last few years of Kyrie are questionable at best.    But could I squint and see Kyrie have the same impact Murray is having in  this playoff run?  Yes, I think I can.

If the Mavs re-sign Kyrie, then they have done the hard part.   Big question, will Kyrie stay sane and healthy?  Beside that though, the type of moves Denver has made needs to be the standard for the Mavs.  Just solid singles and doubles.   Sometimes a single surprises you and you wind up with much more.  But you just need to be disciplined, evaluate talent, be aggressive when available, patient when it is not and make smart move after smart move.   fight for every scrap in deals.   Don't think a second round pick is worthless.   Don't cater in contract negotiations where you overpay by a few million in salary demands..etc.  Every little thing matters.

I completely agree. And I do hope that Kyrie can help us to land a few of these singles or doubles, because two superstars give you a chance to win big and because he has the credentials and connections to a lot of guys in the league that a foreign superstar like Luka (or Dirk) can’t have, as stupid as that may sound.