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

[dirkfansince1998]

I don't see that happening.  While Luka has shown flashes of decent defense in the past, defense is hard work and Luka already exerts a ton of energy on the offensive end.  I don't think he'll ever been in good enough shape to play his current minutes and give you maximum effort on both ends of the floor. You'd need to convince him to play less minutes, not worry about his stats, and have a well-rounded enough team that could be productive in non-Luka minutes.  Now Kyrie should be able to offset some of the shot creation responsibilities so maybe that will allow Luka to be more engaged on defense.

If he cannot offer more on defense the big question is "where can they hide him?". I would argue that as far as quickness and mobility on defense go he is more of a PF anyway.

[mvossman]

So we've had the convos re: if our offense is good enough with just Kyrie and Luka.  In looking at all the recent championships, they not only had their two scoring stars (Kawhi/Pascal, Lebron/AD, Giannis/Middleton, Steph/Klay, Joker/Murray) , all but LAL had at least 2 guys who could easily get you 20pts on any given night (Lowery/VanVleet, Kuzma, Jrue/Brook, Wiggins/Poole, Gordon/PorterJr).

Who are those two guys on this roster?

Timmy and hopefully Hardy.  Historically offense has never been the problem in playoff series losses since Luka.  It has always been defense.

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If he cannot offer more on defense the big question is "where can they hide him?". I would argue that as far as quickness and mobility on defense go he is more of a PF anyway.

I agree.  PF is his best fit, and I'm not sure chasing around guards takes any less energy than banging with PFs.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

No.  Done spending assets on the 5.

Collins plays more like a 4 on defense than 5.

[loki]

Cooling down on Grant is not possible. I can't watch THJ and Bullock attempting to guard PJ Washington in the post for another season.

[omahen]

If Portland moves away from Lilllard, I would go all in on Grant. Lightly protected 2027 with THJ, Reggie and JaVale for Grant SnT and Little. Lets say roughly same salaries changing hands, allowing Mavs to also offer full MLE. If Mavs could sign Brown for MLE, this could start to look as a dangerous team.

https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/...6865373185

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Timmy and hopefully Hardy.  Historically offense has never been the problem in playoff series losses since Luka.  It has always been defense.

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I agree.  PF is his best fit, and I'm not sure chasing around guards takes any less energy than banging with PFs.

Hopefully, but that leaves us without a big who can be in that role.  IMO, it's a requisite you have two scorers outside of your superstars who can get you 20pts easily on even given night.  Gordon/MPJ is perfect at this.  IMO, giving Z.Collins 30mins/gm gives you a stud big defender who can give you those 20pts when needed.

Agreed with Luka playing as a PF on defense.

I do hope and pray that we look to have Kyrie and Luka interchangeable as distributors, like Joker and Murray.  This is on Luka.  He has to learn to be great off the ball.  Doing so will not so tax him in energy.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

If Portland moves away from Lilllard, I would go all in on Grant. Lightly protected 2027 with THJ, Reggie and JaVale for Grant SnT and Little. Lets say roughly same salaries changing hands, allowing Mavs to also offer full MLE. If Mavs could sign Brown for MLE, this could start to look as a dangerous team.

https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/...6865373185

Ya, don't see Grant as a solution.  Below average defender.  Horrible rebounder.

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Ya, don't see Grant as a solution.  Below average defender.  Horrible rebounder.

I'd rather Nurkic.

[cow]

Can I get a tag update? O'Max Contract

[SleepingHero]

Can I get a tag update?  O'Max Contract

Updated.

[Knutsen]

So let‘s be very optimistic for the center spot and assume they‘ll handle the position by committee

Lively | Holmes | Kleber | McGee

Then we have

Kyrie
Green
Luka

with Hardy, O‘Max and the remainings of Hardaway and Bullock manning 1 to 3 including the bulk of the bench minutes. 

Which Power Forward would be the best fit next to these starters?

Washington?
Hachimura?
Williams?
Grant?
Kuzma?

Draymond Green should earn much more and is therefore disqualified, isn’t he?

Exotic alternative would be

Bruce Brown

at the two, pushing Green to the three (or O’Max in?) and, most importantly, Luka to the 4.
Why could it work? Because Brown is a very good rebounder, even for a small forward.

So if you could choose one of the players above - or a guy I forgot - who would round out our starting five and compliment the other 4 estimated starters the best?

[Jym]

So let‘s be very optimistic for the center spot and assume they‘ll handle the position by committee

Lively | Holmes | Kleber | McGee

Then we have

Kyrie
Green
Luka

with Hardy, O‘Max and the remainings of Hardaway and Bullock manning 1 to 3 including the bulk of the bench minutes. 

Which Power Forward would be the best fit next to these starters?

Washington?
Hachimura?
Williams?
Grant?
Kuzma?

Draymond Green should earn much more and is therefore disqualified, isn’t he?

Exotic alternative would be

Bruce Brown

at the two, pushing Green to the three (or O’Max in?) and, most importantly, Luka to the 4.
Why could it work? Because Brown is a very good rebounder, even for a small forward.

So if you could choose one of the players above - or a guy I forgot - who would round out our starting five and compliment the other 4 estimated starters the best?

I feel like Grant Williams has to be the #1 option if we can get him
Hasn't been much of a scorer but hopefully that would pick up here. Everything else he offers would fit perfectly. Gotta think the Celtics would match the MLE though.

Bruce Brown would be nice. Wish he was a little bigger but at least he does play larger than you would think. The long arms help. Just from a contract perspective it might make sense to pursue him first since he dictates where he goes

And Harrison Barnes has to be in the conversation. Would be a super pickup  for the MLE if he gets priced out

[KillerLeft]

I feel like Grant Williams has to be the #1 option if we can get him
Hasn't been much of a scorer but hopefully that would pick up here. Everything else he offers would fit perfectly. Gotta think the Celtics would match the MLE though.

Agree. Jerami Grant would be the ideal for me, but Williams is a more moderately priced option and feels more doable. Unfortunately, MacMahon is hearing it’s not going to happen.

[Chicagojk]

I feel like Grant Williams has to be the #1 option if we can get him
Hasn't been much of a scorer but hopefully that would pick up here. Everything else he offers would fit perfectly. Gotta think the Celtics would match the MLE though.

Bruce Brown would be nice. Wish he was a little bigger but at least he does play larger than you would think. The long arms help. Just from a contract perspective it might make sense to pursue him first since he dictates where he goes

And Harrison Barnes has to be in the conversation. Would be a super pickup  for the MLE if he gets priced out

I agree with Bruce Brown.  His size is a little concerning.  Really nice glue guy though, but it would still leave us needing another body.   But I guess if we did sign him Bullock is gone and maybe Hardaway.

I have no idea what Brown is going to get.   He is going to have a ton of MLE suitors.    And maybe some suitors from the cap teams.   I thought Denver was going to be tough to beat for him because they could have a wink wink deal with him after this year and he obviously fit in really well there.   But they do have Braun and also drafted Peyton Watson last year who was an upside pick that they supposedly like.  Then they drafted three wings in the draft this year.   They were older draft picks as well.  So maybe they may not want to pay 13-14 million to Brown after this season with extensions from their wings coming up.

[KillerLeft]

My guess is that Brown finds an offer north of the MLE.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

If we don't go the route of a traditional C like J.Allen, or Zubac, we need a flex PF/C defensive stud, great rebounder, with range. No one mentioned here really fit this. IMO everyone mentioned is SF/PF, which G.Williams is more of a match. Looking at the right fit (age, size, production, contract), I keep coming back to Z.Collins.

So...
Z.Collins for J.Green.
G.Williams MLE
T.Eason for Powell/2027FRP

Luka, Hardy
Kyrie, THJ
Eason, OMax
G.Williams, Maxi
Z.Collins, Lively

Trade fodder/end of bench: Bullock, McGee, Morris, Holiday

[mvossman]

If we don't go the route of a traditional C like J.Allen, or Zubac, we need a flex PF/C defensive stud, great rebounder, with range.  No one mentioned here really fit this.  IMO everyone mentioned is SF/PF, which G.Williams is more of a match.  Looking at the right fit (age, size, production, contract), I keep coming back to Z.Collins. 

So...
Z.Collins for J.Green.
G.Williams MLE
T.Eason for Powell/2027FRP

Luka, Hardy
Kyrie, THJ
Eason, OMax
G.Williams, Maxi
Z.Collins, Lively

Trade fodder/end of bench: Bullock, McGee, Morris, Holiday

We are planning on going tradition center.  His name is Lively.  We just need a stop gap until he is ready.  Right now that looks like some combination of Holmes/Maxi/McGee.  I don't think this FO wants to put in more assets for a (hopefully) one year stop gap.

[dirkfansince1998]

Not willing to use any of the major assets on a PF/C. Best scenario for another rotation piece is probably someone like D.Saric or M.Wagner if they cannot find a team that is willing to give them more than BAE money. More likely scenario is Dwight Powell returning on a cheaper deal.

[MaxiThreeba]

Not willing to use any of the major assets on a PF/C. Best scenario for another rotation piece is probably someone like D.Saric or M.Wagner if they cannot find a team that is willing to give them more than BAE money. More likely scenario is Dwight Powell returning on a cheaper deal.

I want the Mavs to sign Wagner just so Luka can ask him "Who the F*$# are you?!" when he gets here.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

We are planning on going tradition center.  His name is Lively.  We just need a stop gap until he is ready.  Right now that looks like some combination of Holmes/Maxi/McGee.  I don't think this FO wants to put in more assets for a (hopefully) one year stop gap.

Z.Collins can play in the same backcourt as Lively.  So...  this plan minus G.Williams.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Not willing to use any of the major assets on a PF/C. Best scenario for another rotation piece is probably someone like D.Saric or M.Wagner if they cannot find a team that is willing to give them more than BAE money. More likely scenario is Dwight Powell returning on a cheaper deal.

Have you seen our roster????  The core of our valuable players ready to play now is all guards (Kyrie, Green, Hardy) with Luka as a Point Forward.  Lively is 3 years out from being a starter on a championship team.  What you are proposing is a Luka exit plan.

Paying Green crazy money would be a huge mistake.  IMO, we need to move him for a like talent with production that better fits our needs...  Z.Collins.