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

[mvossman]

I have long been a proponent of targeting Siakim. I've been talking about that for YEARS, actually. Now, something about the fit with Lively (and Kyrie) doesn't quite work for me. I probably still do a deal (if I'm confident he'll re-sign), and I know this will illicit eye rolls, but...we really, really should be talking about the fit. It's not ideal at this time.

He's not much of a catch and shoot guy, Siakim. I stand by what I said a few weeks back: In a post-Lively world, wherein he's a screener on MOST plays and the generation of driving lanes for BOTH Luka and Kyrie (and now Exum, even) is everything to the team, shooting/spacing is the #1 box you have to check with the 5th guy. Maybe Siakim gets that, is happy with an off-ball role and even improves at shooting off the catch in this system. I can't deny that's a possibility, and he certainly fits in from a defense/rebounding/running the floor perspective.

But...I see some Porzingis fit potential here. I really do. I know it won't be popular, but I'm just saying. Talent-wise, we've at least ventured into a situation where using '27 makes a little sense, and I'd have no objection to sending any of the players mentioned to Toronto (except O-Max, who in one year might be all the parts of Siakim we want and none of the parts we don't). My concerns are all about fit, and I could be talked into it for sure.

I'm actually going to double down on this a little bit.  I think Siakam is a downgrade defensively from DJJ.  If our starting lineup already has Luka, Kyrie and Exum, do we really need a huge offensive upgrade?  I kind of want to see a bigger sample of this new starting lineup when everyone is healthy.  Right now our 10th most used 4 man lineup is Lively/Luka/DJJ/Exum. That group has a net rating of +40 (129 and 89).  Its even better in the very limited minutes you add Kyrie to that group.  How good is that lineup?  Is DJJ and Exum going to be this good all year?

Honestly the best argument for Siakam might be the positive impact he has on the second unit.  But it seems to me that is an issue that could be addressed with a younger player that costs less assets and cap.