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

[DanSchwartzgan]

He’s showing signs of being a great pickup this year, and I too have thought about the 1-year deal, and how they won’t have his bird rights. 

But, I think at the end of the day he’s just a placeholder in the rotation for O-Max. It’s possible he’s a one-year-Maverick.

Even if he earns a big pay raise this season, we will have exceptions we can use on him.  He was betting on himself while Curry and Exum were willing to give TO’s.  The TO’s, if exercised, allow them to be Early Bird the third year.  Curry is probably too old for that to matter…speaking of placeholders.

One thing to keep an eye on.  We sit right on the LT for next season with 13 players.  Any trade that adds salary puts or even just signing a 14th player puts us over.  Another year under the LT seems unrealistic.  For planning (and speculation) purposes, the second apron is probably the number to worry about.