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

[SleepingHero]

The issue you're running into with Wood talk is that other than you, everyone here, even his most ardent supporters (among whom I numbered at one point) feel like there has been an avalanche of signals from both the player and the team that they didn't enjoy collaborating professionally last season. I don't know that bringing him back will be considered, even in the event that there literally isn't a good alternative. 

From my perspective, he's a center. They just drafted a center in the first round, highly enough to expect that he'll play some this season, traded for another, still have McGee on the roster for the time being, still have Kleber, who will play at least a portion of his minutes at that position, and it's unclear at this time whether or not Powell will be back. I humbly submit that this is the MBT screaming "alternatives" at you. You're just not listening. 

The hole seems to be at the 4, from my seat. Kleber will play there some, as will OMAX, I hope. But, Wood cannot. His feet are just too damn slow (maybe that was the problem all along - they were hoping he could play 4, when he quite clearly cannot). I think it might be time to move on to your Kuzma pipe dream at this point. When you started bringing him up a few months back, I thought you were nuts because it seemed to me like WAS had moved Hachimura to clear the way to re-sign him to play with Porzingis and Beal. I still believe that was their thinking at the time, but now they've moved both of those other guys and I'm just not sure it makes any sense for them to retain Kuzma at any price. I'd put him near the top of the list of FA's who are about to change hands.

You wrote this better than I could have. Excellent synopsis on why I think Wood's time as a Maverick has ended for good. 

Now regarding that Kuzma alternative, I agree he's about to leave Washington. Problem is I think he's looking for a big payday. I mean BIG. 

I assume that's going to be a 4 year deal starting a minimum of 30 a year. No way the Mavs can get there, but even if they could would you even want to pursue Kuzma at that point?

The guy they should be targeting at the 4 should be Hachimura. His RFA status makes it a tricky pursuit. I think a starting deal for MLE money is one Lakers easily match.