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

[mvossman]

Here is an idea that I think is clever and fits the NewPF and NewBackupC theory...

The deal is THJ/GWill/Hardy/Draft compensation for Avdija (23)/Gafford (25).

I think Gafford at $12mm is a decent combination of cost and skill behind Lively and you haven't paid him so much that you question Lively's status as #1.  

I suspect the trickier one for most here will be Avdija.  His D-Reb% is a surprising 20.8 for his career (J. Grant is 12).  And his Assist% is 12.6 for his career (and 19 for the current season).  He's recognized as a defender, can attack the rim off the dribble and is up to .347 from three (.438 from the corner, but the sample is small).  He also fits the mold of DJJ, Exum and Green in that he doesn't have to score to contribute (important on a team with Luka and Kyrie).  I also think he can play next to OMax when the time comes.

The clever part of this is THJ/Hardy is a match for Avdija/Gafford and Washington has a TPE that GWill (or Holmes) would fit into.  So, you are reducing salary next season ($29mm for Avdija/Gafford vs. $31mm for the outgoing) or you've created a TPE that you can use that is similar to the MLE but wouldn't hard cap you if you use it (I think) in case you can't keep DJJ.

The ball movement here would be incredible and the age of Avdija fits in well with Green, Lively and OMax for when Kyrie has aged out.  I would give up a lot to make that happen.

Thats a trade I consider tossing in an unprotected first for.  But why does Washington do it?  Why would they send out young cost controlled assets?