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

[The Jom]

Great post.

Yes, C rotation and Luka/Kyrie is our nebulous.  

I was one of the biggest proponents of seeing Luka as our starting SF/PF, leaving two guard positions in the starting lineup.  I was wrong.  This negates some of the Luka matchup advantages.  Now that I see DJJ as a starting SF, I much prefer this over another guard.

I just don't think Green is a great fit with Luka/Kyrie, said so and wanted to trade him before the extension.  As you said, not a great POA defender.  I prefer Exum in the guard POA role, but obviously isn't a starter.

DJJ is perfect, but isn't a starter on a championship team.  I love him long term, using his flexibility off the bench.

I hope THJ isn't in our long term plans.  I'd much rather ride with Hardy as scoring off the bench *IF* he improves his defense.

I love OMax's size and tenacity, but it's a real question as to if he'll build his skills to break into the rotation.  He could be a bigger Jae Crowder or be an NBA short-timer.

I would say PJ is cemented.  Great upgrade from Grant.  We need to ride with him.

This leaves our real need as a DJJ-like starter.  I've been beating the Tari Eason drum forever now, but I really don't see a better fit.  Ideas: 
Tari Eason
Trey Murphy
GG Jackson
Brandon Clarke
DFS

Nebulous or nucleus?

Interesting names you list there. Nice collection of potential. But I wonder. 

Having the ability to go with Kyrie, Luka, DJJ, PJ, Maxi maybe gives us the best (and biggest) small-ball playable lineup in the league. Will teams really keep going small against us in the playoffs? If I’m Minny or Denver, I want no part of small ball vs. these Mavs. I’m all in on my bigs vs. Gafford, Lively, etc. Perhaps we should be looking ahead to Wemby and the Spurs. But even then, I dunno. After years of having only Maxi who could play big against the littles, just maybe we now have an abundance of riches in that very important niche? 

Guys capable of playing small-ball 5 or at least 4 at a championship level:

PJ, Maxi, DJJ, Luka, Lively (probably), Omax (eventually), even Gafford (maybe)?

Remember that, not very long ago, THJ and DP were getting a lot of those minutes.