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

[omahen]

I understand this point from your perspective...just not sure I share your perspective. 

For example, I think at this point, the choice in the road is: should we (the Mavs) care about getting something done before Kyrie turns 34? My answer would be no, I think. 

Look how much better this all looked RIGHT AWAY, the second they stopped making (their version of) short-sighted moves. It's a little ironic, but them stepping back and playing for the future just a bit has actually made the team better RIGHT NOW. I would keep going that direction, not change course, but I admit it gets a little tougher to sell when it's possible to delude ourselves into the idea that this team could compete this year. I still don't believe that will be the case, but I'm sure that camp has more people joining as time goes by. 

I just think I'd want to get to the bottom of Lively, Green, Hardy and O-Max before I SPEND ASSETS and burden my cap for players similar to them. That's all. I'm in no hurry, and in fact, I think hurry is the surest way to mess this up.

But then "you" should better trade Kyrie at some point in next 12 months or so. His value will start declining at one point and the contender "you" are building does not include him. Having a great 2-way wing is imho a definite need for this team. 2-way wings are also useful in any other combination of players. You are not touching the core of your player base, so I have a really tough time understanding why would you worry about such a move. Those young guys you mentioned can perfectly develop on a better team too, they can still get their minutes. Spending part of assets on a good player doesn't mean Mavs are blocked from doing other things. Even if it doesn't make them an immediate contender, they are certainly better positioned to become one.

Personally, I would be far more worried if the assets are spent on a center than on a 2-way wing.