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

[F Gump]

Nico has shown he’s big on the draft. For instance, he came in and found out we don’t make a big board on years we don’t have picks. Immediately changed and we get good value with Hardy.

Last summer we have one of the most impressive draft wizardry performances from Nico maximizing our assets

This year’s draft is projected to be one of the worst of all time. We already saw at the TDL how willing teams were to trade picks in this draft. If Nico is going to make the draft and scouting a bigger part of our organization, then i could see him seeing some sort of value in making a move

Let’s say it’s something like this:
Mavs get: pick in a spot of the draft where “Nico’s guy” is available (similar to Omax)

Other team(s) get: THJ, 58(draft and stash) and send us TPE or expirings that we waive

Luka, Kai, DJJ, PJ, Gafford
Exum, Hardy, Green, Maxi, Lively
AJ, Omax, draft pick, Powell, Morris

Really deep team that’s young. I like this better than gutting everything for another star. Save our picks for when Kyrie is another year or two older and we need a replacement. Caruso….Naz….Bruce…. I like those guys, but nothing out there that makes me want to mess with our current chemistry

In general I like all your comments, although I don't quite agree with them all. 

1 I like the swing they took on Hardy, and the way they tried. But I don't think he's going to be a keeper - looks to me like he's still the wild inefficient chucker he always was, two years away from being two years away from maybe being efficiently productive in the rotation. 

2 I like the moves in the last draft, but don't credit them to Nico personally (other than Nico now having someone who can negotiate deals effectively). I credit those ideas to Lindsey, a professional NBA GM who has done this stuff before, and made good deals. Although I do credit Nico for listening.

3 It wouldn't surprise me at all if 1st rounders are readily available, with the way this draft is being talked about. I've actually thought the same idea, that this might be a draft you could sneak into and get a guy you think is overlooked and you really like, so thanks for bringing up the idea.

4 I would love to wake up and hear the Mavs had pulled off your proposed deal (THJ + 58, for a 1st that lands someone Lindsey likes a lot, assuming there is one). 

5 But the part about taking players to waive, I jumped ship on that part. 

6 And the most practical target might be a 2nd rounder who is a 2-way to start with. But what if you can simply buy a 2nd rounder?

7 I do like the idea of trying to get another player to develop. Gotta keep actively looking and trying, even if some don't work out as well as others. So far imo on recent tries, Lively is an A, OMax a D, and Hardy an F, but keep at it. Learn to scout better and develop better, by trying.

8 If this team is really good in the playoffs, we shouldn't expect that raw players will get many minutes next season. The Mavs will be investing the bulk of their minutes in their best, as they are honing skills and chemistry for playoffs.