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

[Winter]

Not enough impact put on the fact that Green was drafted during the post Covid season, when teams couldn’t operate the way they liked. WAY fewer practices and WAAAAAAAY fewer developmental sessions outside of practice. It was really difficult year to be a rookie, I think. 

Also, Green was the 18th pick, not a lottery pick for a team who tanked the last week because they were hell bent to change up at his position. 

Look, I’m not saying I KNOW how he’s going to do early on, but I do have a feeling they’re going to put him out there some.

Yes, they will give Lively minutes early. Unlike Green, Lively has been on the stage as the number #1 high school basketball player. He would have been featured more at Duke had not the injury put him in the back seat. He was considered the #10 player on the board at draft night, and his early workouts before the draft were eye-opening.

Green was a bit of a project largely based on athleticism. He was generally unknown in the states until his one college season, and in Australia was known mostly for his playing of Australian rules football. He played college hoops well and was the 18th pick in the NBA draft, but he really has a very short history with basketball compared to Lively. He had a lot more to learn.

Lively has been groomed for the NBA, and Green never was. Lively expected to be here and expects to play some right away. I suspect the Mavs knew Green was raw when they got him. Green has now earned his stripes, but it took him awhile. The expectations on Lively are different.

The back side of this is that the center position is tough on freshmen. They get injured a lot, they foul a lot, and they get frustrated a lot. So I doubt he plays much early on. 

The Mavs definitely need a veteran center who can play at least 20-25 minutes a night protecting the rim. I don't know where that comes from. Gafford and Reed may look good on paper, but they don't fit that profile yet. I'd be happy with Gafford, but I haven't seen anything to make me think he's available.