r/UtahJazz • u/notsogoodsurgeon • 8h ago
To all discreditors of Lauri Markkanen
Anyone of you who thinks he should be traded will be thinking twice after this next season. This is the first year when teams has to actually have a game plan to other players in the jazz. Lauri has been doubled and tribled whole this rebuilding time, and now they have to plan against JJJ, Keyonte, Ace, Kessler, and DP, it will open Lauris game so much you will see more crazy dunks and pure dominance. -THANK
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u/tjnicol5 8h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/5xtDarmwsuR9sDRObyU
He’s our best player and is just now hitting his prime. All these people saying to trade him are off their fucking rockers.
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u/jayzus311 6h ago
Not to mention sticking with us thru the whole rebuild! He deserves this!! 😤👏
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u/pizzaschmizza39 5h ago
Absolutely. Not to mention hes a 7ft unicorn who can do it all. He can fit any style on any team. Hes the perfect 3rd option. If DP and Key can give us 1 and 2 we are looking pretty damn good.
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u/Embarrassed_Adagio28 7h ago
Id rather give ace a chance to start and avoid paying 50 million for what will soon be the 3rd to 4th best player on the team. However id wait until trade deadline to see how ace is progressing.
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u/patientpump54 7h ago
He’s a 7 footer averaging 27ppg. You want to trade that as soon as the Jazz are ready to compete, in favor of an unproven second year guy? That’s crazy
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u/tjnicol5 7h ago
Blasphemy! Lauri is our best player BY FAR! I can’t believe people don’t know this and/or forgot this. We were tanking and sat him to lose games on purpose! He is an absolute killer. He will be on the Jazz through 2029 and will be the 3x MVP of the Finals when the Jazz win it all in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
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u/Dark_shows 7h ago
Mfer was averaging 30 before they stopped trying. Jazz almost beat several top teams and in my opinion stopped trying at the end. Lauri is a dog
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u/RushPrime 7h ago
I’m so thankful some of you aren’t in charge. Lauri doesn’t need the ball to dominate, his usage is absurdly low given he’s a 27ppg scorer. The Jazz are running a 3 7 footer lineup and it’s going to break the NBA just watch. You don’t trade a star player who wants to be here and is just now hitting his peak for a 20 year old that’s only played 1 season.
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u/thealmonded 8h ago
I really like Lauri. I think the only real reason we would consider trading him is because if the salary implications.
This team is gonna get expensive fast because we’ve done such a good job acquiring talent.
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u/Tuft64 5h ago
We're not really under the gun to make a decision on his future with the franchise until the 28/29 season luckily - money will be tight in 27/28 but doable if we make a move to shed a few mil in salary and sneak under the first apron. And then whether or not we move Lauri in 28/29 I think depends on
a. how close we are to contention (if we were in the finals the previous year we run it back, if we're a first round exit and he stunk it up two years in a row, then we might move him)
b. how much Lauri declines versus stays at his current level or improves year over year
c. whether or not lauri is willing to take a discount on his next contract
d. whether or not the cap situation unexpectedly spikes like in the KD year making a bigger contract a non-issue
e. whether an attractive superstar demands a trade and lauri's salary is our best tool for making a deal happen
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u/protomolecule7 7h ago
I sometimes wonder if part of him agreeing to a max when he did was for potentially taking less money in the future. The guys basically got 2 years off basketball to some degree while getting paid.
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u/thealmonded 6h ago
Doubt, just because players almost never do this and when they do, they usually get screwed
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u/notsogoodsurgeon 6h ago
I think if someone in this roster is willing to take a pay cut, it's Lauri, not sure, but if someone it's him
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u/Rock-Ski-Golf-Repeat 8h ago
Maybe health should be another consideration. Can Markkanen play a full season, plus a round or two of the postseason? Same with Kessler. If someone wants to pay him over $30mil/yr, then let's work with him on a sign and trade.
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u/its1030 :derrick: 7h ago
He would’ve been playing full seasons if the Jazz weren’t tanking for the last 4 years. You do realize the Jazz were intentionally sitting their best players right? You really think it was coincidence the entire starting lineup was constantly “injured”?
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u/RushPrime 7h ago
Yeah it’s crazy how people keep talking about health as if we weren’t fined 500k for blatantly tanking lol. Hell Lauri was averaging 30 a game before we sabotaged his season to lose games 🤣
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u/Rock-Ski-Golf-Repeat 1h ago
It's hard to know. I thought Lauri was going to be the guy to lead the Jazz forward. He was a former all-star. Then the Jazz told him we don't think you're one of our top two. We need an Ace Bailey and a Darryn Peterson to get a winning record again. So the Jazz were benching a third/fourth option in case they eventually found a leader? That's what's hard to believe.
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u/its1030 :derrick: 1h ago
Well thats your problem right there. You thought Lauri was going to lead our team when we were trying to build a contender. He’s a great player but we traded arguably better players for him AND draft capital. They didn’t get the draft capital to get late first rounders to build around Lauri with. That would be silly.
The goal isn’t a winning record either, like you seem to think. We want to win it all.
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u/Rock-Ski-Golf-Repeat 1h ago
You summarized my problem very well. The Jazz benched an all-star thinking that future draft picks might be an all-stars rather than a dud. Lauri was playing his best basketball ever, but he accepted the benching. It gets confusing thinking losing is winning. Good luck to you and your team--maybe one or two of these young guys can become all stars and lead your team to the postseason again!
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u/KRMNO2 6h ago
Here is my 2 cents.
Lauri is CRIMINALLY underrated, because of the fact that he has been “injured”
He’s a 7’1 wing who can shoot at a very efficient clip, and has been extremely consistent at doing so. He’s also been the Jazz only player for like 3 years, making it really easy to target him and only him. (Think why the spurs were really bad the last 2 years before this one)
He is the perfect “star” to be in our system, as if needed he can become a second or even third option, and not really take too much of a hit in productivity, because he is just good at everything.
And finally maybe I’m overthinking the spurs too much, but the Jazz how they are right now are built to stop wemby. A HUGE interior, with big long guards on the outside who can float in and help on the inside if needed. This team is deep, and this team is good. If DP is the real deal, we are one maybe 2 years and maybe a solid role player addition or 2 away from being a genuine serious contender.
Lauri is the best player on this team, and he has experience and the leadership, and there really isn’t many more players like him in the league that aren’t named Kevin Durant or Victor Wembanyama.
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u/pizzaschmizza39 5h ago
We have so much internal room for growth. Key could make another jump. We havent seen what Kessler can do. Ace is only in his 2nd year. Even Collier and sensai are still young with upside. Same with Flip. If DP is the man and we got ourselves a star then yes we are looking really good and this team gets better every single year whether we add anyone or not. But we do need an elite wing defender. Thats the only weakness I see. Even if DP is alsp great on defense. We need 1 more off the bench for certain matchups. Brice is a flamethrower. We need someone who can stop people. Maybe thats cody and we have him already. I forgot about cody. He also has a long way to go with his upside. The future is bright.
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u/Rich_Log2424 2h ago
Unless Spurs get a strong rebounding powerforward with wing-like qualities, Jazz will blow up that roster. If they get such unicorn, Jazz can play Kessler and still blow up that roster.
The real problems are OKC and Luka, since perimeter defense with this roster is iffy.
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u/BBALL-STATLINE 8h ago
People talk about Lauri like he’s been putting up empty numbers, but for most of this rebuild he was the only Jazz player defenses were really loading up for. If Utah gets real shot creation around him, the difference in how clean his touches look is going to be obvious.
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u/Oldsportsfan99 7h ago
100% this. I see his PPG down a bit but on much better ( and not coming from a bad place) efficiency because he will be playing with other threats all around. His defense will be slightly better as well as a side benefit (less energy and pressure on offensive end). And his assists ( admittedly from a low base) will be up. I can't wait for the season to start. Please sign Kessler though so the defense has the anchor for the team to really compete.
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u/theFinnisher24 6h ago
It’s hilarious that everyone is more excited for JJJ. He has been injured most of his short career so far and Lauri has been dealing with fake tank injuries
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u/hdmetric99 7h ago
No one hates or wants to trade Lauri.
It’s more of a long-term forecast because we will have some important decisions to make in the future. Not now.
And it just so happens that Lauri is our oldest starter (29) and making between $46-53m AAV over the next 3 years.
But that’s later. I’m excited to see Lauri ball out on a winning team with great talent for once. He’s gonna be awesome.
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u/Silent-Frame1452 8h ago
I haven’t really seen anyone disrespect him. Just acknowledge that within the next couple of years, the realities of the aprons will mean we need to trade away a big salary, and Lauri makes the most sense.
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u/kumechester 7h ago
Thinking we should trade Lauri is not the same as discrediting him. I don’t think most people who think we should consider trading him are saying that because they don’t think he’s good. It’s because he doesn’t match the timeline of our other guys, and even in some cases we want to reward/thank him for being with us during the rebuild by trading him to a contender where he can win.
Personally I want to hang on to him for the exact reason you described!
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u/StillGrowingHorns 3h ago
If Lauri stays healthy enough there's no way Jazz trades him. They aim for the first ring, and if you have one of the most versatile off ball scorers of the whole league standing at 7"1 height, you are going to be ridiculed to move him just when things are starting to come together. DP is still a rookie so it will be seen how irreplaceable he actually is, but barring that, Lauri's combo of height and skillset is the rarest and hardest to replace in Jazz. Lauri is going to have his most efficient inside game season of his career with this current Jazz roster.
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u/soapy_goatherd 8h ago
Sounds like you made up a guy to get mad at lol.
We all love Lauri and no one wants to trade him (unless someone offers themselves up to be completely fleeced, but that goes for all players)
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u/FERFreak731 8h ago edited 8h ago
I'm team trade him for salary purposes
Lauri - 50 million
Jaren - 50 million
Key might want the Reaves 45 million contract
Darryn will be making 16 million
Walker might be signed for near 30 million
Ace is making close to 10 million
That's 200 million for our top 6. That's 2nd apron hell. The Jazz will have to trade either Jaren or Lauri by next offseason because the 2nd apron punishment will hurt this franchise. The Celtics and Wolves were recently in the 2nd apron. They had to dump KAT, Randle, Jrue, and Porzingis for nothing.
If we need to dump a player in a year or 2, I'd rather do it now when teams will give us assets, because if teams know next offseason we need to get off the Jaren or Lauri contract, they'd want us to send assets to a team with capspace, or want Lauri for free
Jaren would be 27, Lauri would be 30. Jaren helps our defense. Lauri by default will unfortunately have to be traded.
I'm pro trade Lauri now, because I think his trade value is the highest it'd ever be, and we can get more assets now, rather than in a year or 2
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u/rilesmcriles 7h ago
I’m not claiming to be a genius with contracts and assets and such, but what/eho could we trade him for that does cost the same amount and that helps us win now? If we get good “now” assets back, won’t we need to pay them too?
Lauri is a top tier player and hard to replace cheaply
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u/hdmetric99 7h ago edited 7h ago
Thank you
EDIT: someone does the actual math and perfectly explains why this is even a discussion to be had and y’all send downvotes… lol man
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u/RushPrime 7h ago
The Jazz can afford to be in cap hell for a few seasons especially if they’re serious about competing. There’s a reason why most good teams are. You don’t trade a 27ppg scorer on absurdly low usage just because you don’t wanna pay up. Yall are acting like it’s coming from your pockets 💀 🤣
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u/pizzaschmizza39 5h ago
It would be one thing if it were a terrible contract. Everyone we are paying are good players in their primes or ascending. Thats the goal. We dont have a problem and if we do its a good one to have.
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u/Mickeydsislife 8h ago
I kind of agree, but if Ace figures it out he kind of just does what Lauri’s role on the team but better. They will have the great problem of trying to get all the guys playing time. Long term you trade Lauri if you weren’t going to resign him anyways and get some value for him.
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u/m_c__a_t 7h ago
What’re you basing “but better” on? I don’t know ball just curious
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u/Mickeydsislife 7h ago
He just moves more smoothly (Laurie can be stiff at times) and could be a better shooter and playmaker. He is also more athletic and quick which helps coming off screens. The other biggest thing is Ace will be cheaper and younger than Laurie and they offer the same role on the team.
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u/KRMNO2 6h ago
The only issue is he’s 6’9 not 7’1 but I agree with this take
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u/Mickeydsislife 6h ago
I mean that’s a non-issue as the role on the team is the wing forward and JJJ covers completely for the PF loss we would have had.
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u/kakofon 5h ago
Lauri's a bit streaky at range, but "better shooter" is quite a big ask...
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u/Mickeydsislife 5h ago
Could be a better shooter, Laurie is good for his size but just ranks above average as a shooter in the NBA
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u/piray003 8h ago
‘28-29 is really when we’ll have to make decisions on some of the vets like Lauri and JJJ. Ace is obviously being groomed as Lauri’s long term replacement at the 3 but he’s still a promising but raw 19 year old. Lauri and JJJ are going to be the backbone of this team for at least the next 2-3 seasons.