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

[SleepingHero]

And our biggest opportunity.  Luka has a PO in the summer of 26, which means he will take his first Super-Max extension in the summer of 2025.

Jokic has a PO in the summer of 27 on his current Super-Max.  So, he will be extension eligible in the summer of 26 (after Luka has already committed to his).  Dallas has the contracts of Kyrie, PJ, Gafford and Kleber all ending that summer.  I think from a timing standpoint it more likely Denver would consider a trade if Jokic won't sign the extension (for his second 35% of the cap contract) than it is to think Luka will pass on his first Super-Max to become UFA.  Obviously anything can happen and either could demand a trade.  But Luka is younger and surrounded by a younger group of players than Denver has around Jokic.

One wild card in all of this is Lively.  Do you really need both Lively and Jokic?  If Lively is the star we think he will be, do you give him up?  His Rookie extension is that same summer meaning he'd be PP if we traded him after he signs.

I love your positive spin on this. Im going to need a recurrent dose of that whenever this topic is brought up.

To answer your last question, I think if Jokic is actually ever available, you give up everything not named Luka to get him. Even 3 years from now. That duo would be Magic+Kareem 2.0 with better passing if that's even possible.

I do have to ask, the same logic we're using for Luka to re-sign here with a supermax, why would Jokic also forego that extension? Wouldn't it be more likely for Jokic to extend and force a trade? I suppose this only matters if Denver fizzles out in the next 3 years. Hard to imagine that happening with Murray being 26 (even if the injury bug has got him), and Gordon being 28.