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

[IamDougieFresh]

Some Thoughts on the Roster and Future


Star Players

Luka Doncic - I believe the only player on the planet better than Luka is Jokic. I also believe that if he improves his defensive effort and gets serious about his fitness, he can challenge Jokic for the #1 spot.

Kyrie Irving - I get that a lot of you are mad that he didn't vax and thinks the Earth is flat. I think off-court matters will be just fine. On the court, you can expect 3-5 years of absolutely electric play, followed by a productive extended career if he so chooses.

Jaden Hardy - Star player??? Yes. It's easy to see that Hardy has immense talent. In my opinion, it's only a matter of time until he becomes a 20 ppg scorer. If he develops as a playmaker the sky is the limit. He will have to be the 6th man for defensive reasons.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper - First I told you that our sophomore guard will be a star, and now I'm telling you that OMax will be too. I proclaimed that they must find a way to get him in the pre-draft thread. Normally, I reserve the "star" title for players who can get buckets. Players like Dennis Rodman and Draymond Green are also stars, and I predict that OMax's impact will be on that level for us one day.

Role Players

Josh Green - I am very hopeful that Josh Green will take that next step this year. All he really has to do is shoot it when he is open and keep playing hard. We really need him to use that athleticism to be a good point of attack defender. I think a lot of our success this season is going to depend on that alone.

Grant Williams - I'm very happy that we were able to get him. He's a great defender who knocks down his open 3s. He got shit for his incident with Jimmy in the playoffs, but Tatum and Brown are the dudes who choked, if you ask me.

Maxi Kleber - Despite a tough couple of years filled with injury and illness, Maxi remains an amazing defender and a small ball 5 with 3 point range.

Dereck Lively II - I think he is going to be a good rim protector and lob threat. That's all we really need. If he becomes an elite rim protector, the Mavs become scary. The 3-point shot... haha, we'll see.

Dante Exum - I really do think this is an underrated pickup. He learned how to shoot, and he is a good defender. I saw a stat that said he was like a 90%+ percentile PnR ballhandler in Europe. He will be a great backup guard.


I really believe the players listed above are enough to win the championship in a few years if everything goes right. How some of these players will turn out remains to be seen, but they are going to have options to improve the roster as well. I'd say things are looking pretty solid. A massive turnaround from how I felt before the draft.


Just Stopping By

Richaun Holmes - I actually think he is going to be really good for us, but he is just a stopgap.

Seth Curry - He's a shooter who is great to have on your bench. I don't want him to take many minutes from Green and Hardy.

Gotta Go

Tim Hardaway Jr. - I don't hate him like some here do, but he has to go so that Green and Hardy can grow into their roles.

JaVale McGee - Get rid of him and convey the last Porzingis pick, and all this shit will finally be in the past.


Long story short, I'm really excited, and I think things are going to be great in the not-too-distant future.

My updated views on the future after a quarter season worth of data



Mr. Jason Midd

Make no mistake, this guy will not lead us to a championship. His lineups and rotations really piss me off. That being said, this is about the future. I would say aside for Lively, his minute allocation for the development of players has been on the very low end of acceptable. Development can cost wins and I recognize that you have to try and find balance.


Star Players

Luka Doncic - Still work to do on transition defense and complaining to refs, but there has been a little improvement.

Kyrie Irving - His best play is yet to come. My views have not changed.

Dereck Lively II - Lively has elevated himself big time. The center we have needed. Still a ton of work to do, especially when it comes to defending out to the 3 point line. Probably coaching related.

Jaden Hardy - As predicted, THJ is in the way. My thoughts have not changed. You watched the game last night. Hardy is DYNAMIC. The 6th man role should be his. If he can get a stretch of playing consistent minutes he will begin to blossom.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper - Views haven't changed. If I see Morris play another minute you will see me on the news. Get the kid some small consistent minutes and let him grow.


Role Players

Dante Exum - He's really good lol. Better than even I expected.

Derrick Jones Jr. - Looks like I made my last post before the DJJ signing. I'll keep it real. I didn't think he was going to be good. Apparently he learned how to be a serviceable shooter. Must retain him.

Josh Green - Off to a weird start after getting his extension. My views haven't changed. That being said, Exum is clearly the better player right now. I can see him being part of "The Big Trade" in the offseason with the emergence of Exum and DJJ.

Grant Williams - Buy low. He can really shoot it. He will be just fine.

Maxi Kleber - This is my Dwight Powell I guess. I'm still hopeful about his usefulness if he can get a healthy stretch. It feels like it's been forever since he was a great defender with range out to 3. I'm not ready to say it's over quite yet.

Just Stopping By

Richaun Holmes - Give the dude an actual shot as the backup Center. Will almost certainly be a part of "The Big Trade".

Seth Curry - Good depth shooter. Stop giving him any minutes from the young guns.

Markieff Morris - Not much to say. Solid 11-15th man. Maybe we can launch him into Jokic's spine.

Gotta Go

Tim Hardaway Jr. - Sucks that we have to keep this dude around to make "The Big Trade" in the offseason. He's been playing well, but we all know that could end at any time. Like I said, he's just in the way of bigger and better things.