Well, the Timberwolves did make it to the WCF with Towns as the #2 option. I would certainly have them as legitimate contenders if Ant takes a decent step forward as their #1 guy. I would say KAT is theoretically good enough to be a #2 option on a championship team based on his regular season numbers, but he has been the type of dude whose game has gotten worse instead of better in the playoffs, and that's what makes him kind of fringey as a #2 guy. It's TBD how well Lauri's game will translate to playoff basketball. So sure, I think it's fair to say he's unproven as a #2 option in the playoffs, but if I were running a team where he fits well, I'd certainly be willing to give it a shot.
I agree that Lauri's game would be an intriguing fit but yeah, he is ALWAYS on the injured list. Only Bradley Beal spends more time in street clothes.
They also shut him down at the end of the season to tank so he would've played more games if they weren't doing that
I wouldn’t do Green straight up for Markanen much less what Ainge would demand….Green, Jabrari, multiple firsts.
I don’t know how that could work and would be an odd pairing if the offense features both him and Sengun as primary scorers. Mark is a versatile big that likes to iso in the High post or elbows getting a jumper or dribble drive. He can also play on the perimeter launching 3s coming off flares etc or driving from there. There would be spacing issues since Sengun has some of the same spots as Mark in terms of elbows and high post. Jabari wasn’t a featured primary scorer. Unless the Rockets just think he can play Jabari’s role but with better ability off the dribble or shooting. Besides who would play 2 if they traded Green—Shepperd? That’s a recipe for disaster with no real consistent dribble drive threat from the guard position as neither Shepp or FVV is great at getting into the paint consistently. The whole offense would be ran with 2 bigs. And we already know about Mark’s lack of defensive awareness.
Still hesitant to give up on a 21 year old Jabari, guys like Markkanen come along and become available, this will be his fourth team in 5 years, Ainge is no idiot he wouldn't be looking to move him if he didnt think taking up a max slot on him made much sense. Jabari is saying the right things at least, and only had 1 year under a real NBA coach. You want to use max slots on guys that teams do not hesitate to max out, not a guy who will be on his fourth team in five years, a real max guy does not get moved that often.
Right now yes…..gotta look at their ages. One is six years younger and has unlimited potential. I’d trade Dillon Brooks and a first for Markanen and give Ainge a bit of his own fuel back. Wasting time talking about any player on a Danny Ainge team. Like a store that charges too much for everything, better off just ignoring it and walking right past it.
It's possible that Green will become better than Lauri, but I wouldn't bet on it at this point. His median/most likely outcome is a microwave scorer off the bench. I agree that Ainge will ask for too much though.
Markannen is 4 years and 9 months older, can we take some lessons in maths first? How are you making him 1 year older? Unlimited potential? Dude has a Bball IQ of a goldfish politely put a carp or trout...if we are still talking about Green
Seems like an odd "point" to make considering he's a 6'4 shooting guard. Markkanen will never have the speed, agility or hops that Green has either, because you're comparing completely different positions, frames, playstyles and everything else.
But only if it’s not addition (Lauri) by subtraction ( Green, Brooks, FRP).. that’s too damn high.. not to mention his defense.Oh yeah…his durability isn’t exactly great either.
I think he's a more developed Jabari .... with worse defense. I'd rather just stick with Jabari and see where his development leads - his ceiling is higher than "current Markkanen".
I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but I’d happily give all JG’s dribble drive reps to one Amen Thompson. A Reed+Amen future backcourt is nothing to scoff at.
I don’t think so. If Mark is so great how come 2 teams and a reported third team is giving up on him? Fact is he is a talented big that can score but his lack of strength and defense has always made it difficult to play him. He has had issues with quicker 4’s and he can’t guard big 5’s that play low post. Teams always had to pair him with a defensive minded 4 or 5 or sometimes played him at 3. But he isn’t a 3-D guy and can’t switch. On the offensive end he gives teams mismatches but defensively gives opponents mismatches and an advantage. That’s why he’s one of those guys that while talented is limited as a player.
Im excited to see what Amen can do but he just really has to add a couple of shots to his game. He needs a floater, 15 ft pullup jumper, or 3 pt shot in my opinion. 2 out of 3. He doesn’t necessarily need a 3 pt shot to be effective but if he can take people off the dribble and pullup consistently or driving floater 5-8 ft that would be nice. But until then that’s a weak backcourt. I suspect Shep will be eased in and depends on how he develops may unseat FVV next year. we shall see.
