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

[mvossman]

We need a back-up center as much as a scoring forward. Lively/Goga can probably protect the rim for 48 minutes and if the opposing team chooses to go small on them, we can insert Powell or Kleber into the line-up. But then it becomes OUR choice, not OUR DESPERATION, due to lack of better rebounding/rim-protection options. We need to balance out the frontcourt.  DJJ/Exum are very good defenders, but in today´s NBA you cannot stop guards completely anymore, but you can funnel them into uncomfortable places. A floater over well-positioned Lively/Goga is a tough shot. A floater over Powell/Grant is a "is there anybody here" shot.

We don't need a scoring forward, we need a two way forward, and the idea that a backup center is as important as contending level starting forward is ludicrous.  We disagree with what we currently have (our current backup center has the best defensive rating on the team) but just look at the market.  Next offseason a backup like your describing will a min contract or at most a small exception.  A starting 2 way forward would cost 30 mil on the open market and multiple firsts in a trade.  Those two needs are not even in the same ballpark.