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

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think part of what I'm getting stuck on is not knowing exactly how Hardy fits into the long term of this thing. There's a world in which he's similar to but better than Herro a year from now.

You and GoP both asked the same thing and it is a valid point.  First, let’s define terms.  If ‘better’ means scoring (and it does for some people), then Hardy is there already.  The difference between Rookie Hardy and Rookie Herro are mainly scoring and TO’s.  Hardy is already a better per-minute scorer than Herro’s best year.  

But Hardy’s TO% as a rookie are triple the TO% Herro had as a rookie.  I think the advantage of someone like Herro is he is already what you hope Hardy becomes from an overall standpoint.  Herro shows up WAY better these days in WS, VORP and On Court because he’s pretty good at everything with no gaping holes.  Hardy may always be a better scorer, but he’ll be limited if he can’t do it without turning the ball over and that is a hope at this point, not a given.

This isn’t a hill I want to die on.  More of a tea leaf read or hunch than something I can’t live without.  I will point out that you aren’t getting some old guy with Herro.  He’s  over a year younger than Luka and is already what you hope Hardy becomes without having to wait.  I guess you could say the same about J. Allen or Anunoby too.  I just happen to like the upside of Lively and OMax better than I like the upside of Hardy on a Luka centric team.