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

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Yeah, the thing with me lately (especially now that the Mavs seem to be both good AND young, simultaneously) is: do any of these old, household names still want to get it done? I think that's kind of a legit question. 

Are Kawhi and George still TRYING to play more games each year than they typically do, or are they just resigned to the idea that they'll use nagging injuries to get out of work a fair amount of the season and then start playing for real about two weeks before the playoffs? Because...yeah, they're great...but I'm not sure they're that great anymore. Know what I mean? 

I feel the same way about that PHX team. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't scare me. They'll probably be better than the Mavs this year, but I'd WAY rather be the MAVS than the Suns right now. Idk, maybe I'm alone in that. I just think we're witnessing a changing of the guard right now. I think that whole LeBron, KD, PG, Kawhi, Durant, Curry thing...it's kind of almost over. If I'm the Mavs I'm planning for after.

Ya I can't bring myself to want either of those Clippers guys despite it seeming like they may become available.  Kawhi would be the absolute perfect player on paper to add to this roster but we haven't seen the on paper Kawhi in the playoffs after 2019 other than the two times that happened to be against the Mavs.  And to your point about the changing of the guard, PG will be 34 when he signs his next contract assuming it happens this offseason and I can't imagine that aging well.  On top of all this, it felt like everything these players did was all about getting them to LA so I can't imagine a bunch of smiles on their faces here in Dallas.

Going back to Grant real quick since I missed most of the convo.  I agree with Killer that he's become a little too offensive minded for my liking but my one counter to that would be while that's true, he's still very capable of playing good defense and I'd be willing to bet the playoffs drag that version of him out.  I also think that while screen navigation and point of attack defense may end up being a little bit tougher with a trio of Williams/Grant/Lively on the floor with Luka and Kyrie, I think that trio would bring a lot more paint defense that what we get currently with DJJ and a touch more rebounding while also bringing a higher level of offense.  To me it would be all about what that cost is.  Is it just the 2027 and cap relief?  He's basically the baseline level of player I'd be willing to let go of the 2027 for and would take IGT's side of things knowing that 2 more firsts are coming this offseason.  Is it 2027 AND Green?  Then that's a no from me dog.  I also agree with omahen that this wouldn't really block us from developing OMax and having a bunch of good wings would be a good problem to have.  Grant is turning 30 by the end of this season and will be 34 by the end of his contract around the same time OMax is turning 26 so in the perfect world that would be a great time to hand the torch over.  If Grant Williams. Jerami Grant and Omax all turn out to be starting level wings in that timeframe?  Well then it sounds like people will be knocking on our door with some extra draft capital to offer us which will help us figure out how we replace Kyrie at the end of his contract.