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

[KillerLeft]

Just bringing this up again, if Luka is on another team come 2027, it's because the Mavs traded him. As Dan's pointed out a bunch, the most likely scenario for Luka (and what has been done countless of times) has been for the star to sign the biggest contract he possibly can, then demand a trade. And in that scenario Luka will extend for his supermax, as it will dwarf any other offer another team can give. 

Should the Mavs trade Luka we'd get the biggest trade return of all time. There will be no shortage of picks for the rebuild. That's why I'm not super torn on trading the 2027 pick.

That doesn’t change the equation for me, because I just saw what the Mavs were able to do with the #10 pick on draft night. You can’t tell me it makes sense to send this one (good chance it’s even better) out for Capela (whom I like). Its worth is either a greater aid to a Luka led team than this deal or a good way to jumpstart the post Luka Mavs world.

Capela doesn’t do quite enough for me in EITHER scenario, especially given the investment in Lively. Now, if they had a couple more picks to pony up and could get Siakim, the only true difference maker involved here, I’d happily pull the trigger, but in order to position yourself to even afford giving consideration to moves like that, you have to avoid spending your few and far between firsts in deals like this.