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

[SleepingHero]

I think the Mavs are motivated for a center. I think they're also motivated to remake the roster.

So far we have 7 "new" guys on the roster, Kyrie, Seth, Omax, Lively, G-Will, Holmes, and Exum (yes I'm counting Kyrie). If history tells us anything, a new GM wants to retool the roster into their image.

So now that the Holmes deal is finalized and our RFA target matched, where do the Mavs go? Stein keeps screaming the Mavs are trying to remake their center position and that McGee is all but gone from the Mavs. Trying to put all the pieces together, and scanning potential deals where the Mavs stay below the apron but are still able to match salary in the trade, I've thought of a deal that hurts, but makes sense.

THJ+Maxi+2027 FRP top 5 protected for Jarrett Allen+Isaac Okoro.

Why do the Mavs pay that much? Well Allen for sure fills the need. Is there a better center that matches all the skills Stein has echoed the Mavs FO are focusing on (rebounding, rim protection, PnR lob threat)? Okoro is that POA wing defender they were looking at Thybulle with. His expiring deal also satisfies the "pressure-release valve" that Dan pinned the Bullock contract with.

Why does CLE do it? Well this gives them yet another wing and 3pt shooter that they need AND a flexible switch defender that pairs well with Mobley. The FRP doesn't hurt either.

I just have a feeling that Nico is going to break up the long time Mavs we've seen for quite some time. He started with KP. Then Brunson (not by his choice, although if rumors are to be believed they were shopping him for a while), then DFS. But he's not going to do it just because. Allen is worth it. This deal hurts because Maxi is a fantastic flex defender and he's a great locker room guy, but that's also why the deal feels fair.

In terms of money: THJ+Maxi=28.9 mil. Allen+Okoro=28.9. In fact this deal only increases the Mavs cap sheet by 23.5k. Basically an even swap money wise. This lets the Mavs go and make a run at Paul Reed. Reed is 6'9, pretty switchable, and a young big. He can't stretch the floor at all, but he'd be an interesting pivot to fill a Maxi sized hole left after this trade. Of course it doesn't have to be Reed. After this deal (and an assumed McGee S/W), the Mavs total salaries would be 159.7, enough for the full MLE.

Roster:
Luka/Seth/Exum
Kyrie/Hardy
Green/Okoro
Williams/(MLE, Reed?)/Omax
Allen/Lively/Holmes/Powell

This feels like a very Nico move. One where he isn't afraid of paying assets if it nets the Mavs a good player, which it does in Allen.