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

[KillerLeft]

Agree with the ball handler part, but going from a 31 year old undersized PG to a 26 year old high efficiency shooting big is worth it especially in the long run from a future value perspective.

Markennen would still take a lot of pressure off, as an efficient high level point producer despite not being a dribble creator, to where Im not sure the lack of another pure creator would matter quite as much. Luka hasn't really played with a big who can score like Markannen before (KP avg 57% TS with the Mavs, Markannen has been at 64% the last two seasons, and IMO has a better rounded offensive game right now than KP particularly in Dallas).

It would put a lot more pressure on Exum for sure, and arguably you wanna try and swing something for another ball handler but I'd do it just for the benefit to the development of the team beyond just this season. Markannen has also arguably become a passable defender, and helps with the size we are desperately missing.

I can be sold on adding Markennen, no problem.

For me, it’s tough to get past IGT’s fine point: the Mavs would be giving up the best (current) player in the deal AND an UNPROTECTED pick. 

Now, Markennen would have a chance of still being here in ‘27, so the inclusion of that pick in a deal for him isn’t as crazy as some of the things we talk about doing with it. Ultimately, I’m personally of the opinion that Markennen isn’t a good enough get to justify that level of risk, but I couldn’t blame someone really high on Markennen for wanting to do a deal for him.

But not Kyrie AND the pick. THJ and pick, maybe, but even that seems steep. The PICK is what Ainge will be after. Let’s start the salary matching package with pieces like Holmes, imo.