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

[mvossman]

I think the resulting lineup is good.  Bucks have apparently said they want more than GWill for Portis.  Do we think a second round pick moves the needle?

Is Hardy and a second enough for Charlotte to both eat Holmes and give us PJ?

Both deals feel light to me.  Do you do the same construct if Hardy goes to Milwaukee and our 2027 first goes to Charlotte and we keep our seconds (and Charlotte also takes Pat Connaughton)?  That starts to feel painful for Dallas...essentially 2027 and Hardy to upgrade from GWill to PJ and upgrade from Holmes to Portis.  But, a little bit painful is probably what it takes.

Yep.  I find if there is a trade I would definitely do, its probably too light on our side.  

I find myself fully in Omahen's camp.  We need to add a high level starting forward to this team.  That feels like the missing piece.  If the lineup Lively/???/Luka/Kyrie looks like a contender to me, then we should pay assets for that piece.  That player does not need to be a star, just a legit two way player.  I've been more than vocal that I don't think Kuz makes that a contending lineup due to defensive and offensive efficiency concerns.  I feel the same way about PJ.  Siakam or OG would have made that a contending lineup (maybe not this season, but by next season with a few more tweaks).  Using assets to bring in a starting forward now that we will likely need to upgrade in order to contend does not make a lot of sense.  

It makes even less sense to spend assets for a backup big.  After a rough start to the season, Powell has actually been good, and now we are seeing signs of life with Maxi.  Anything more than a second is wasting assets.