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

[Jakeospikez]

When you watch the defensive clips it kind of speaks to what I've been saying that we shouldn't take any defensive metrics to heart when you're playing for a team as bad as the hornets.

Box score plus minus metrics being the end all be all that lots of fans care about is getting tiresome. Need to watch players play. Lamelo has been out most of the year and maybe he's disgruntled that he's stuck there because he was a RFA and wants out and all anyone can do is point to plus minus. GWill had good metrics in Boston Im sure, yet he is clearly not a fit here as a starting 4. Random 4s/5s shoot over him in the paint like he doesn't even exist. PJ has plenty of skill, proper size/length, actually blocks shots, and will likely be much better here. Him being a bad defender in Cha doesn't instantly correlate that he'll suck here. Mavs do their double and swarm scheme and he may be the right guy to play 4 for that scheme cause he is decently quick for a big wing. I'd be fine with PJ. Would prefer someone with a shorter contract like PJs if the Mavs believe in OMax cause they'll expire out sooner and can potentially be used in a trade in a couple of years if OMax is ready to take over. Collins is way more expensive but has only 2 more years and a big expiring. Beef stew would prob be fine also. Whatever the best deal is any of these guys would be ok as starting 4s/small ball 5s.

Getting proper value for the 2027 1st might need to be a combination of players plus shedding bad contracts. I think the move is to just trade the 2027 1st really. If Luka leaves they should get a ton of assets back to recover and if he stays you need to start being good now while he's peaking and ready for title contention. Really depends on if they have some plan for this offseason I guess. THJ/Holmes can be valuable salary matching this offseason, or maybe some tanking team wants expirings going into next season rather than expiring this season so they have value this tdl.

Is the salary cap going up and Kuzma salary descending not a plus?  And he is cost controlled for 3 years after this one.  Isnt that a plus?
Also...ASSUMING DUE DILIGENCE IS DONE...EXHAUSTIVELY...does anyone see OMax ever having the skill and body control Kuzma has?  And Kuzma is 6'8-6'10 and OMax is 6'7-6'8?  I dont think I do.
I have been in the HOLD OMax category...but looking at that Kuzma contract and wondering if OMax will ever be as fluid a player as Kuzma along with size.  Maybe Kuzma is a sandbagger and Omax effort is worth more than Kuzma size and fluidness and skill.
Not suggesting a FRP and OMax...Im just curious is swapping a very raw big with a bigger proven vet is reckless/wreckless?  Without a FRP of course.  Just if OMax is included.

Kuzma does have skill but what has this skill lead to with Kuzma? He thinks he's the shit and he chucks trying to jack his numbers up so that he can get a bigger next contract. OMax already looks like a better defender than him. His feet are way quicker and he hustles his ass off on defense plus his arms are longer. Look at OMax's fluidness on defense. He buys into the defensive stopper role as his main skill. Kuzma will be the guy to not care about spending lots of energy on defense and just want to get his numbers up.