Speaking of timeline, I just saw Markkanen in the multiverse playing 82 games and scoring 29 ppg with 12 boards. Best of all that universe uses clams for money. We could get him for a steal. I'll page the Jazz for more details *forgot to tell you that they still use pagers there and never heard of the internet. Should be fine*
I think Lauri could be the second-best player on a championship contender, depending on who the best player is and what the rest of the roster looks like. I have him pretty close to Kyrie Irving in overall value, for example. He's probably better than Jamal Murray, though it's close. He's actually a great complementary star on the right team because he's one of the best off-ball scorers and best-shooting power forwards in the league, and he's a solid rebounder just due to his height. However, he's definitely a guy where if you're paying him the max, you'd better also have a true superstar locked up as your #1 option. Just having a Tatum level dude ain't gonna cut it, you'd need a Jokic, Luka, etc. So for us, and given how high the price to acquire him would be--I don't think we're quite in the right position to justify overpaying for him. Though I won't lie, it is tempting because I do think he would make us a lot better right away. Just don't think it would be quite enough to really contend yet and I'm not sure yet that we have anybody in-house who is going to be a legit top 5 player to put next to him. (Plus the health issues.)
Every single one of the combinations listed here should be criminal...absolute theft and DUMB..I mean really dumb. Lauri is an overall win vs.Jabari..but not by a lot..you gain some offensively BUT Lauri and Alpy ? Whew...ok ...an absolute assault on the rim.I already believe if healthy Adams will play a LOT...if this were to happen, he will play maybe more than some here want.That said, I could see the Rockets doing this...and living to regret it bigly. I really believe this....I'm not sure it would move the needle on overall wins. He can shoot but good luck defensively.He is a bigger liability defensively than he is an asset offensively.He is not a great overall "fit" as we exist now. I'm not giving up what arguably is 2 of our top 3 young core.JMO.
I'd say you summed it up nicely. The price is WAAAY to high and I have a serious question if you are getting better...while giving away the farm. You want to trade a couple of your young core...GO BIG or go home.
I don‘t know about paying much for him. He is a great player - that is also injured a lot. And his contract is up in a season. I don‘t like to break the bank for him. And I still think, that Jabari can develop into a similar player with better defense. That being said, I would be open to trade one of our 7 young guys, either of our veterans and 1-3 future first rounders for him (depending on who we include into the trade). And for people saying, that we would definetly trade Jabari for him - I do believe that both can easily share the court. Both can also play the 3 or the 5 depending on the situation.
I would be surprised if Green's feelings are a big factor in why they haven't extended sengun. The cap flexibility next summer due to his low cap hold makes more sense. However, if that is the reason then they should trade Green before the season as you mentioned so that we can extend Sengun. I am still not sure if Lauri is a better fit than Smith with Apli though.
7 young players to develop is a bit too many. I wouldn't mind consolidating a bit to get a proven allstar. I'd try to keep Jabari though and slide him to the 3. Lauri's health "risk" is completely fake. In both the last 2 seasons, the Jazz won way more than they wanted to early in the season and made up fake injuries for him post all star break. He's a perennial all star and young. Definitely worth it.
This is how I see it too. If we're running with the idea of "consolidating our several players into fewer players" I'm not giving up 2 of our youngsters to get a player who arguably peaked lower than either of those player's ceilings could be, makes more sense to just keep the players and trade the worst of the 2 down the line. If we're giving up any 2 of Jalen, Bari, Tari, Cam, Amen, Reed, I want a real star coming back. If it's a fringe all-star like Markkanen 1 and picks is the absolute upper limit, preferably trading none of them and moving our other pieces instead. If it's Booker? Sure go ahead and trade Jalen and Jabari or Jalen and Cam, because that's an actual legitimate top-tier all-star scorer.
It would the needle in the wrong direction. Jabari guards Wemby, Lebron, Durant, Chet very effectively and is approaching 40% as a 3 pt shooter and is 21 years old. It would be idiotic to trade Jabari for Lauri.
Ainge has never made a win win trade in his life. Almost all his major trades have ended up lopsidedly in his favor. Even if you like Lauri Markannen his price to acquire wont be worth it.
Markannen's health risk isnt fake or you think Markannen was faking it on the Bulls and he would also be willing to tank his stock in his contract year just to help the Jaz who may not even be the team he signs with? He isnt worth it. People wanting to trade for him now are the same people who want Lavine last year or last last year. Perennial young all star amirite?
People that want to trade Jabari and picks for Lauri only watch one end of the floor. 50% of basketball is defense. He is an absolutely terrible fit for the Rockets. If he was Doncic good then ok, but he is not even close. I think the Rockets love them some Jabari. Booker or. Giannis are the targets in the next 2 years. In the meantime, they might add some useful vet role players. Besides we just signed the Australian Lauri.
The problem is giving up the Phoenix picks for a guy that doesn’t fit with the starting unit. The only way Lauri makes sense is if we move Sengun and somehow add a defensive center that is also decent in the post. If you assume it’s Jalen and picks, what would your starting unit look like? You don’t win championships without at least a top 10 defense.
