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

[SleepingHero]

I’m assuming neither of those things. He was the price of getting OMAX, and I hope he can contribute A LITTLE. I have no illusions about him making a serious impact or being on the floor to close games.

Without OMAX, he wouldn’t be here.

If you aren't assuming either of those things, then the Mavs currently have no starting center. Or you're relying on a rookie to come in and be able to contribute day 1, with McGee+Holmes covering. 

To me, that center position almost rivals last years and has an argument for being worse. 

So then I posit, out of the starting centers that are apparently available:
Allen, Capela, Valanciunas, Poeltl, Ayton, Vucevic, Lopez, Plumlee

Which would you target? And 2nd, how much do you weigh the assumed increased cost for guys like Allen, Poeltl, Capela, and Valanciunas would be over Ayton's relatively low buy in?

Cause to me the answer is clear. Ayton for THJ+air is an infinitely better deal (and has a higher likelihood of being able to be flipped later for better assets) than trying for Capela, Allen, or Valanciunas, whose teams would likely demand 1 of the members of the young core as mandatory in a deal.

I assume Poeltl is out of our price range. Lopez+Vucevic should be in the price range but given the rumors Lopez is likely to be money whipped by Houston and Vucevic is staying in Chicago.