Avon saw the whole forest. When you are dealing with dudes like Marlo, whose principle is not to make money but pure power in the streets, you cannot use money or other "clever" negotiation tactics to tame him. The only option is to take him out. Avon saw that Prop Joe and Stringer didn't. Look what happens in the end. He listened to everything stringer said and still said " I want my corners "😂 Just imagine while stringer is talking, hank Schrader come in and say to him "you're the smartest guy l've ever met, and you're too stupid to see he made up his mind ten minutes ago. Avon wasnt trying to hear none of that downtown businesman talk. Stringer thought he could change him. The street is the street always. Stringer wasn't soft and he had some intelligence. He was just slimy and not as smart as he thought he was. Avon knew the game well, his instincts were sharp. Also, as implied, Avon's off screen network and relationships are vast in New York & Baltimore. Stringer wanted to invest his money legitimately but still make dirty money wholesaling and not getting involved with retail. The direction he was trying to take would have sunk the organization. He wanted to move like he was the connect but he wasn't. Prop Joe had the connect and the Greeks were the plug. Stringer couldn't see their foothold was their structure & network, territory, muscle and respect in the streets at that point after they lost their connect in season 1. He thought he could talk Marlo into working with him and the co-op. What he wanted would have made him lose power and put more of it into Prop Joe's hands. Prop helped create the wedge between Avon & Stringer if you watch closely that was his endgame.🎬🍿