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

[mvossman]

Great list and I will assume this as an indicator of best defenders. Many of them match the eye test. Looking at who might be available and Mavs don't win it all with this team, this would be my preferences:
- dream target Paul George. He still didn't resign with Clippers, which indicates he demands more than they are willing to pay. Any deal would require Clippers to play along (trade or SnT) either taking some of our guys (unlikely) or third team would be needed to take our contracts. George would provide the offense we are looking for in THJ now, combined with very good defense we are looking for with guys like Exum, DJJ or Green. Downside is that he is getting old and his contract will likely be an albatross and he would still cost assets to get. But as a way of optimizing the Kyrie window, there is likely not much better you can get. Mavs would enter a true contender status if they manage to get him. Probably a pipedream, but not totally impossible. George is a player that has the status to demand where he wants to be
- realistic target: Caruso. Elite defender who can move the ball and shoot. Basically a better version of DJJ, Exum or Green. He is not that much better though and not sure how much better the team would be with him. 
- Thybulle. Mavs wanted him in the past. Elite defender, but problem offensively. I would rather keep DJJ and only think about Thybulle if Mavs are unable to resign him.

I think Caruso would be a significant upgrade over any of those three.  DJJ is a good defender, but Caruso is in another league, and a better fit offensively.  We will know more after the playoffs, but if we are going to make a reasonable sized move this coming offseason, that would make a lot of sense (depending on cost).

George is almost 34.  He would have made a lot of sense 5 years ago, but not sure how much longer he can play at elite level.