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

[Mavsfan12]

Let's make this easy, here are our 1-3 "ready to contribute now at a championship level" players...
1.  Luka, Point Forward, 6'-8", 230lbs ($40m)
2.  Kyrie, Combo Guard, 6'-2", 194lbs ($45m est)
3.  J.Green, SG, 6'-5", 209lbs ($3m)
4.  Hardy, Combo Guard, 6'-3", 198lbs ($1.7m)
5.  THJ, SG, 6'-5", 205lbs ($17.8m)
6.  Bullock, SG/SF, 6'-6", 205lbs ($10.4)
Six roster spots, $117.9m

Here are our 4-5 "ready to contribute now at a championship level"...
7.  Maxi, Forward, 6'-10", 240lbs ($11m)
One roster spot, $11m

See where we need to focus on?????  Again, in order to keep Luka from walking out on this franchise, we have to compete now.  The hopes that Holmes will do a Lazarus isn't going to do it.  Hoping Lively will go from only 20mins in college and games he simply was invisible to what we need out of a championship starter isn't going to do it.

We need a flex PF/C who eventually start with Lively and a flex SF/PF who could start for us right now.  The discussion should be around who that is, not what we need.

The most frustrating thing about reading various outlets, including this one, during this offseason is hearing all of the theories on players that the Mavs are supposedly chasing or are interested in.  In a single, concise post, GoP has illustrated the massive issue that too many people are ignoring.  I don't want to hear another word about freaking Bruce Brown.  Who cares?  We need a frontcourt.  Period.  ALL assets should be used in targeting that area of need at this time.  The MAVS are stacked at the 1-3 - for now and into the future.  They need starting/contending level 4/5's still.  Two of them at a minimum. Period.  If you don't like the rumored bigs that are available, fine.  But people positing people like Bruce Brown/Norman Powell for the MLE/snt candidates, with the current state of the roster, are really showing that they don't get it.  

I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but come on.  This place is better than that.

One last thing in my rant...  Bullock has been a solid defensive presence for this team in his time here.  His defensive ratings absolutely TANKED last year because he was being asked to play the 4 here.  (he was the starting 4 after the TDL, with Luka sometimes guarding up, and Bull guarding down).  Anyone watching the games had to be able to see that the defense was getting killed by often playing 4 guards on a regular basis.  With Wood/Powell as the 5's, no less.  Come on!  The Mavs need to make deals for bigs - using players like THJ at a position of depth to do so.  They need to preserve the MLE to use on a starter at the 4/5 - depending on which position doesn't get filled in a trade.  But this team is STILL two starting players short of a contending roster next season.  Unless... the Mavs view Holmes as a starter.  No one has seen much of his play the last two seasons, but I would be happy with his play from 3-4 seasons ago - IF we had a really nice compliment at the 4 - and then go with a C by committee approach.

Great post, GoP!