The Utah Jazz are sitting at 5-11 and 12th in the western conference along with 23rd overall in the league. Markkanen however has been having a great year. 23.7 ppg on 48.4 field goal shooting.
Instead of trading him for young talent and picks, would it be smart for the Jazz to draft a top player in the draft and keep Markkanen all at the same time?
If they trade him, then they basically have to start all over but they could always just keep him and go for a top 5 pick regardless if the Jazz wanted to. The playoffs seem out of reach for Utah this year.
Quick note, Lauri won’t ask for a trade and will not rock the boat. So basically question is “Should Ainge trade Lauri to ensure the tank”
Source: he is from Finland
He said that he was happy in Cleveland and felt like he found a home and the trade was hard on him so I agree, if the Jazz give him a market value contract next he’ll most likely stay.
You can’t have your cake and eat it.
I actually think they can. It’s not like they are gonna win much more than 25 games even with Lauri. They can keep him and tank
My hottest take last year is they should’ve flipped Lauri when his value was the highest.
There was definitely an argument for that.
You think his valued dropped? He still All-Star level. Still got another year on his contract. Just entering his prime. Anything they could’ve gotten last year, they still can probably get now.
I think they could still get something like Tyler Herro and two unprotected firsts for him.
It hasn’t really been seen whether he can do this on a good team, but playing a more valuable position should still give him high value to some contenders.
Raptors if we ship siakim to a 3rd team
They can still do it now.
Unrelated but i think if Lauri goes to okc… okc might be contenders tbh. Just riding on the hype train though but i think it would be fun
That’s a great take. I feel like okc is one skilled forward away to line up next to chet & they could do some serious damage. J dub is great but Lauri would fill in their need for a skilled forward with good size
OKC trades Giddey and picks for Lauri and everyone is happy.
Utah is happy for the picks
OKC is happy because they are kinda legit contenders with him
Lauri is happy because he is contending
Giddey is happy because he now plays for a team that historically accepts pedos.OKC or Orlando would be cool
OKC is a contender now, with lauri they are legit, j dub, lauri, and Chet…sending giddey to Utah would be hilarious
Would be dope to see Cason take that lead guard spot next to SGA. I feel like he would be a better long term fit than Giddey anyway.
SGA/Lauri/Jdub/Chet would be a ridiculously skilled core 4.
One piece away from being the next nba dynasty at that point considering they still have whatever is left of Dort, wallace, poku and the rest of their picks after dealing for Lauri.
lmao, OKC is so not a contender.
They’re a talented core who’ll definitely be a contender very soon.
But as of this season they can challenge any team but they’re woefully outmatched by the real contenders like Nuggets, Bucks, Celtics. And even the tier 2 contenders (like Lakers Heat maybe Warriors) will kill them in a 7 game series.
Chet is too small to hold up against everyone you’d face in a playoff series. AD, Jokic. If they can dodge them then maybe they have a shot
This actually makes a ton of sense. We know OKC has the assets.
They have the assets…. But the jazz do to. What are the jazz going to do with 4 more first round picks they already have a shit ton
Lauri or pascal would put us into that real contention tier
Thought the same thing last year too. They’ll be terrible this year and once he signs a new deal that pays him what he’s worth his value will plummet.
His maximum contract will still be good value, it’s not gonna be the same type of salary as someone like Jaylen Brown
His value won’t get worse on a max contract, he’s a max player, and being signed to a longer contract is better for his value.
Lauri will always have value despite the contract. How many teams would like a guy who is a good shooter at 7 feet tall that you can stick at the 3. Every team.
I think Lauri has shown his value and deserves better. Don’t see how he plays for the Jazz past 2024 trade deadline.
A top 5 pick in this years draft really isn’t getting you much.
Remember when 2020 was a weak draft and now there’s multiple franchise players from it. And multiple high level role players.
It’s hard to be worse than the Wizards Pistons Spurs and Blazers even if you trade Lauri
Actually it’s easy. The Jazz have won ZERO championships despite having an all time great duo in Malone and Stockton
Pistons have won three all against top tier opponents. We actually beat Jordan unlike the Jazz. We beat Birds Celtics and Magics Lakers. Then we took down Kobe Shaq and Phils last attempt at a 3 peat by beating them to the ground 4-1 in the Finals.
Pistons could not play a SINGLE playoff game and they still would be an immensely better franchise than the Jazz
Compare Wizards don’t bring in teams like the Spurs and Pistons who have won multiple titles
I know I’m biased but I feel like jazz/blazers (at least when somewhat healthy) are in the same tier of tanking, and it’s above those 3 teams you listed.
Hard to say. Right now despite our recent win they are definitely way better. See: point differential. Maybe when Ant is healthy it’s pretty even?
We don’t have to be better than them to be in a different tier with them.
Ant is our best player and he’s been out. Scoot is going to grow exponentially based on his start to the season. It’s not that much of a question imo. And that’s not to say we’re any good. We’re very bad.
How about if they trade Lauri for Jordan Poole…? taps forehead
oh u made me laugh
I don’t see why Lauri would ever resign with Utah. I wouldn’t in his place. I would become as free agent and pick my destination.
Because he likes it here and the Jazz have the 2nd most assets in the league which they can use to become better quickly. Obviously it’s not a super attractive destination for most NBA players but it’s not like we’re the Bulls who suck and don’t have assets to make moves
Just give him the sga treatment and load manage him. You’ll be fine
Pretty sure the Jazz’s 1st round pick this year is only top 10 protected. A lot of discussion last year was about how they’d handle this season because of that pick. The consensus was to just play for the playoffs and don’t worry about it. Now it definitely feels like we want to keep that pick. I suspect a fire sale.
To answer OP’s question. I think the Jazz keep Lauri this season.
Doesn’t the pick convey to an unprotected 2025 one on a much superior draft if they don’t lose it this year?
it really sort of depends on what you think the Jazz are and what Lauri is.
If you think he’s a first or second option, obviously you keep him and try to make things happen. If you don’t, gotta tear it down and start over imo
If they’re smart, they can take another team’s entire haul of draft picks if they trade him at the deadline this year, there will be desperate teams and not a lot of quality players actually available.
It’s easy to see Vivek say the time is now and then go all in Minnesota style.
He’s a good player but he’s a support star, probably a third best player on a contender.
Ainge doesn’t tank. They’re rebuilding and not that good but he’s not going to totally sell out to go for a better lottery chance.
I don’t think there’s a huge reason to tank in this draft. Doesn’t appear to be a clear top tier. I think there’s a pretty good chance the top pick is not worth the 11 mil that they would be making at that pick
Yeah, just use The OKC method of faking injuries like with Shai
They absolutely can tank with him. They aren’t exactly lighting it up right now. They can move Clarkson, Olynyk, THT, and possibly Sexton/Collins (which I highly doubt will happen) to free up minutes for the young guys. Force Hardy to let them play through their mistakes and go into the offseason with a high pick, tons of cap space, and a crazy amount of picks to use in trades. They can bring in a star and other quality guys while also adding another young guy to develop.
How has Clarkson been defensively? He certainly has a reputation and his size limits his impact, but would is he passable on that end?