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

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

I look at it similarly.  I think Green eventually starts here alongside Luka, Kyrie, Lively and NewPF, but that  is an argument for another day (we are 7-1 when he starts).  You then have NewBackupC along with Exum (guards 1-3), DJJ (guards 2-4) and eventually OMax (Guards 3/4).  The nice thing about NewPF and DJJ is between them and (hopefully) Maxi you don't have to have OMax ready for this season's playoffs.  You can run an 8 man playoff rotation without him.

The bench is light on offense, but we don't platoon.  If NewPF can create (unlike THJ who currently occupies this salary or GWill), then you can keep two of Luka/Kyrie/NewPF on the floor at all times.  You also have Green and Exum who can help with ball handling and distribution.

So, Ideally NewPF can create for themselves and others and hit a 3 (think Bojan/Kuzma/Grant), but also defend and rebound (think Not Bojan/Kuzma/Grant).  We've talked about a ton of names and no one who is available seems to fit the bill.  A backup C is another position where there is disagreement about.  Do we run 48 minutes of a similar skill set or do we need a differentiated skill set (a better and healthy Maxi).  

To me, the guys who aren't necessary to this vision (besides Holmes) are THJ (I think his D and lack of playmaking is really detrimental), GWill (not good enough to start and blocks OMax backup opportunities) and Hardy.  Does anyone else even matter?  I would pay a premium if I could fill NewPF and NewBackupC all at one time as long as I don't have to touch the Luka/Irving/Lively/Green/Exum/DJJ/OMax core.  I'd also give up 2027 unprotected and add swaps if the level of player was high enough.  I know many here want to wait until the summer (or put better...think we have a better shot at accomplishing both this summer).  But, fill those two slots properly...now...and I think we can run with anyone in the playoffs.

Ya I think you could have either of Green or Exum start alongside Luka and Kyrie and have the other come off the bench and nothing about the core concept really changes.  I see both of them playing around the same number of minutes and both closing at times depending on the matchup/flow of the game.

I think whoever they move for a PF, if that indeed happens, we'll tell us exactly what the FO thinks of OMax.  If a young piece is being requested in a trade that we want to make I see it as shopping GWill/Hardy together or Hardaway/OMax together to keep some sort of roster balance (with Holmes as additional salary to add if needed).

I'm taking the mindset of this roster can be in a great place come the start of next season, my one concern is the FO thinking they can do it all this trade deadline and gutting everything before it even got off the ground but the news coming out of Shams today made me hopeful that we aren't going to be overspending this month.