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

[SleepingHero]

Confirmed.  Duffy client and fellow Balkan Boy, Nicola Vucevic coming to Dallas.

A Bulls fanblog posted this trade idea. Not far off from a Holmes+2nd package so it seems like their own fans don't seem high on Vucevic's trade value. Keeping THJ and adding a starter level center for just a 2nd is a no brainer for me.

A lot of others have identified the issues with Vucevic, mainly being his defense and contract, but he has been a reliable 18/10 guy for the better part of a decade. That is not nothing. He also manages to stay healthy. 

My one issue is if THJ isn't outgoing, are there are 12-14 shots available on this team for Vucevic to be properly utilized? Is he going to take kindly to being reduced to 20mpg? Do we want to put Lively on the bench for longer? (I'm shocked I'm even saying that).

Lots of questions. Perhaps Vucevic would want to take a reduced role as he gets older, especially since he's already signed his extension. But there are concerns there...

THJ for all of his warts fits this team very well in the gameplan they are trying to run, and Vuc doesn't really. If anything LaVine makes more sense in that we need someone as a 3rd scorer whose talent level matches the shot attempts THJ is taking.

Just to put a bow on that LaVine idea, here is Stein talking about the Bulls and the Mavs:

Stein: There are likewise no firm indications yet in circulation that the two-way Bull who would surely generate lots of interest leaguewide — Alex Caruso — will be made available between now and the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Caruso is in the third season of a four-year, $37 million deal.
It appears more feasible that teams such as Miami or the Los Angeles Lakers, rather than Philadelphia, could emerge with substantive trade interest in LaVine since those teams have a clearer need for an offensive infusion.
Dallas is another team that has been linked with LaVine in the past — particularly in advance of LaVine's free agent summer following the 2021-22 season. One league source, however, indicated Tuesday that the Mavericks are unlikely to pursue him.