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

[Mavs2021]

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.

I share a lot of those thoughts, especially about the 2024 draft, but Hardy an F? That is crazy.

First of all he was the 37th pick. That he will play 7-8 years in the NBA, which imho is a lock at this stage, already makes it a successful pick. An F would have to get released in the first two years of his rookie deal.  

Also Hardy and Omax are virtually the same age. Why is Omax not an F, cause his NBA development is clearly behind Hardy.

If you double his minutes, his production basically mirrors THJs. Better passer, better rebounder, better shooter. He has not progressed from his rookie season, but sometimes there are ebbs and flows. I would not be surprised at all, if the Mavs have internally marked up Hardy as THJ´s replacement for next season.