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

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think you've got to plan for either Hardaway OR Hardy to be in the rotation, moving forward, and I have a feeling it's going to be Hardy.

I went back and listened to Bobby Marks again.  He says nothing about Hardy in his comments about rookie scale guys.  He does mention Lively and OMax as guys he wouldn’t move.

He also put THJ on his list of guys he wouldn’t move.  Personally, I think the PJ deal is GWill + Hardy.  It doesn’t change our outlook substantially, but the lineup makes sense as he’s got a little more size than Williams and a more diverse overall game.  Starters are Lively, PJ, Luka, Kyrie and either Green or Exum.  The other of Green/Exum is off the bench with THJ and DJJ and we probably still need a reliable backup to Lively.  Note that this surrounds THJ with more D…especially if you add a defensive backup C.

Next year OMax takes the DJJ bench spot and if he’s not ready and DJJ doesn’t come back for the TP-MLE, then you find another temporary fix at the TP-MLE until he is ready.  My preference in a PJ deal would be to add Holmes and a top 7 protected first for Richards so that you could have the full MLE next summer.  Some will complain that we are giving up a first for a salary dump, but you are also getting Richards to help with the need behind Lively.  Plus, we don’t know that GWill/Hardy is enough to get PJ done.  So, adding the pick may be required just to get the PJ part done.