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

[omahen]

The 27 pick is our last decent asset.

Only for this season. Next year we have 2024 or 2025 and 2031. 

Of course I agree the uprotected pick is valuable, but I don't have problems trading it. I like PJ, but don't see a perfect fit on current roster (I don't believe moving GW to bench is an option). 

I really have a lot of dilemma about the value of a single UFA. Looking back, the high level 2nd or 3rd best starters like Murray and JRue cost 3 (mostly) unprotected picks. Solid starter level players like Derrick White, AAron Gordon and similar cost around a protected FRP. Lakers traded (lightly) protected FRP to dump Westbrook and get three rotation players (none of them exactly worked well for them). Point is, there is really not much in between. Anyone remembers a trade of a single unprotected FRP, other than Mavs trading for Kyrie? Poeltl was traded for top 7 protected pick, Brogdon protected 1-12, Huerter lottery protected. Closest one was perhaps Jerami Grant, who was traded for 1-4 protected pick. 

So, you can save the pick for next season or split the pick. I would be more inclined to split the pick this season and bring in two players that can actually help you get to play-offs and be in your play-off rotation. A center and another (bench) wing. For example THJ and "half of 2027 pick" for someone like Capela and Holmes and second "half of 2027 pick" for someone like O'Neale. Dump McGee with 2 SRP to OKC for some of those excess youngsters. I could "survive" if they wait until TDL for this move. I only hope they won't build too big of a hole. 

I think Mavs are done, though. Other than moving McGee, which I hope they will not just dump (no value in dumping, his contract could be needed in a trade). Even if the hold up would be Holmes - if they would have something lined up, they could announce it (and likely would be leaked), only to be formally concluded in September. I think more likely version is, that talks are reopened in September, when Holmes can be aggregated. Of course Mavs likely already have an idea, what can be done in September. But things change.