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

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Stein mentioned WCJr being available in a note again today.  He’s been mentioning this a good bit and no one else is really saying much about him.  Stein has also been strangely quiet about Mav’s rumors.  If “league officials” are saying Carter is available, are those “league sources” coming from Dallas.

If he was healthy, Carter would really be a good fit here.  He’s rarely healthy, but neither is Maxi.  Would you rather have younger Maxi who gets hurt a lot of older Maxi who gets hurt a lot.  I could see Dallas having more interest in WCJr if Maxi was part of the deal (so hang in there, it’s coming).

The price for Orlando is THJ.  They are 29th in the league in 3 point shooting and THJ isn’t shy.  And obviously, the Magic coach knows him well.  THJ for WCJ doesn’t seem like an even swap given WCJ’s health.  So, the question for me is whether there is a way of engineering a deal that has elements other than THJ for broken down Carter Jr.

Turns out THJ is a match for WCJr and Ingles.  So, call that the first trade.  Ingles, BTW, has a TO for next year at $11mm (so call him an expiring contract with benefits).  Orlando is currently about $5mm under the cap and once that trade is done they will be enough under the cap to fit Maxi into their cap.  So, trade #2 is Maxi for a second rounder and an $11mm TPE.  The last benefit of such a deal is that Dallas now sits $8mm under the tax for the current season and could use the rest of the MLE or their existing TPE to take on a player and still be under the tax.  

So, the net result of such a deal end up

THJ (who isn’t ideal here)
Maxi (who is never healthy)

For

Ingles (who is just as bad defensively, but you can run some offense through hi and can be expiring)
WCJr (who when healthy is a much better and longer Maxi)
TPE of $11mm
Ability to use the current MLE or TPE and stay under the tax
2nd round pick 

If we could ever get a week where both Maxi and Carter are healthy, I could see them doing this.  A couple more guys and we could run an all-Australia lineup at times.

I made a moonshot bet on the Magic to win the championship before the season.  I have since cashed it out but I've watched a lot of Magic games on League Pass because of it.  Ingles is really good utility player.  He plays good defense, rebounds well and hits the occasional 3 at a good percentage.  He's bigger than THJ and would work well for us.  I think JKidd would really like him as well.  

I would definitely take the deal from the Mavs perspective.  Carter is a significant upgrade over Maxi and despite the injuries has played a lot more games over the past couple seasons.  He missed time this year because of a broken hand which will clearly not be a lingering issue.  Not sure about his knees.  I can imagine the Magic countering with Richaun Holmes instead of Maxi due to the shorter contract.  

The Magic are struggling a bit after a great start to the season and could definitely use another shooter/scorer like THJ.  I think this trade gives both teams what they want.  I can imagine the Magic feeling like they deserve some draft compensation though in the deal.  When healthy, I think WCJ is the best player in the trade.  Maxi has the worst contract. 

I would suggest adding the following wrinkle to the trade.  The Pelicans need to shed about $3 million in order to get out of the luxury tax.  We could take on Kira Lewis' expiring contract into the deal and the Pelicans could tip the Magic their 2030 2nd-round pick.  We'd drop Markieff Morris in the aftermath.  That would be fine.  Joe Ingles is a massive upgrade over Morris.  

WCJ, Joe Ingles and Kira Lewis to the Mavs.  
THJ, Maxi Kleber and the Pelicans 2030 2nd-rounder to the Magic. 
Pelicans get under the luxury tax.  

Jaden Hardy and Joe Ingles would replace THJ's minutes.  

I really like this deal.