Potential Trade Targets

[Handlogten's Heros]

Trae is like the 25th best player in the league imo... somewhere in that vicinity. I think he will rocket you to the 3-6 range in your conference but will limit your ceiling. If we are building a team around Lauri that wins a title I think it has to be a sum of their parts is greater than the whole type of deal. I think Trae can elevate the team on offense but isn't matchup proof and will cap the ceiling on what type of defensive team you'd like to be. I just think James Harden is the absolute best version of the player Trae could be and his ceiling isn't that high because of physical limitations. Rockets should have won a title so maybe that is proof of concept but we say James have struggles in the playoffs at times. I think Trae will have similar limitations.

If you are truly trying to build a contender I'd go other routes. Jalen Brown would be the type of target you could get as a foundation piece I'd look at. Maybe if Key gets good fast you have something there.

If you want to build to the middle playoff team type of tier (the "Kangs" tier if you will) then I think there are more efficient ways to get there. I'm skeptical we go the trade for a star route... I think it might be more likely we eventually move Lauri and move towards a "process" type bottoming out OR one of the young players we draft will grow into a star and we will supplement with other guys that fit really well (through trade) but will be sub AS level.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Trae is like the 25th best player in the league imo... somewhere in that vicinity. I think he will rocket you to the 3-6 range in your conference but will limit your ceiling. If we are building a team around Lauri that wins a title I think it has to be a sum of their parts is greater than the whole type of deal. I think Trae can elevate the team on offense but isn't matchup proof and will cap the ceiling on what type of defensive team you'd like to be. I just think James Harden is the absolute best version of the player Trae could be and his ceiling isn't that high because of physical limitations. Rockets should have won a title so maybe that is proof of concept but we say James have struggles in the playoffs at times. I think Trae will have similar limitations.

If you are truly trying to build a contender I'd go other routes. Jalen Brown would be the type of target you could get as a foundation piece I'd look at. Maybe if Key gets good fast you have something there.

If you want to build to the middle playoff team type of tier (the "Kangs" tier if you will) then I think there are more efficient ways to get there. I'm skeptical we go the trade for a star route... I think it might be more likely we eventually move Lauri and move towards a "process" type bottoming out OR one of the young players we draft will grow into a star and we will supplement with other guys that fit really well (through trade) but will be sub AS level.

I'd build around Trae/Lauri 1000/100 times before Brown/Lauri.

Jalen Brown is one of the worst pairings for Lauri I can think of.

The Jazz need the next big acquisition to be a star playmaker, not a 2-way guy who can masquerade as a playmaker during the regular season.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The scary thing about building around Trae/Lauri is that then you are really putting a lot of pressure on Walker that I'm not sure he can deal with.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think there are 12-13 players in this NBA you may be able to make the case could be the best player on a championship team. Unless you build a Detroit Pistons style contender... which only really worked once. I don't think Lauri or Trae are one of those 12-13 players. I think Lauri could be the best player on a Pistons style team that could be considered a contender... I think Trae would limit that style of contender.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Also Harden Rockets were amazing and lost because of generational choking that had nothing to do w/ playstyle. It's just who Harden was. Taking it as some kind of proof that a heliocentric defense-lite superstar cant win would be a mistake especially when it's a better formula than most.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'd build around Trae/Lauri 1000/100 times before Brown/Lauri.

Jalen Brown is one of the worst pairings for Lauri I can think of.

The Jazz need the next big acquisition to be a star playmaker, not a 2-way guy who can masquerade as a playmaker during the regular season.

Its not ideal but those two would allow for another playmaker to grow around them. Having Trae limits the other types of dudes you can put on the floor... Brown/Lauri can both play on any team.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Also Harden Rockets were amazing and lost because of generational choking that had nothing to do w/ playstyle. It's just who Harden was. Taking it as some kind of proof that a heliocentric defense-lite superstar cant win would be a mistake especially when it's a better formula than most.

Problem is prime Harden >> Trae

I was using the Rockets as the absolute ideal and yes they were great and likely win a title if it isn't for the Warriors, but playstyle definitely affected them several years. Harden runs out of energy or doesn't get his grifting fouls anymore and it helped lead to choking in some years. They had two historic anomalies too.

The size is a huge issue too. You could play another pg next to Harden... if you were able to get a FVV or Garland (that size and style of player not those exact guys) or Key grows into a stud... its hard to play that guy next to Young... a guy like Brown again can play with anyone (as flawed as he is).

Trae may win a title if he joins the Lakers in the offseason... but he will be the 3rd best player in that situation. Outside of that I'm just not sure you can build a legit title threat around Trae. With that contract and that acquisition price he has to be that for me. I just don't want to start this rebuild by shooting our wad on a guy with that many limiting factors.

Side note - he seems like a dick and not the personality you really want to lead your locker room.

 

[fishonjazz]

Also Harden Rockets were amazing and lost because of generational choking that had nothing to do w/ playstyle. It's just who Harden was. Taking it as some kind of proof that a heliocentric defense-lite superstar cant win would be a mistake especially when it's a better formula than most.

Harden was an MVP level player and made the all star team 15 seasons in a row.
Trae ain't that.

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[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Trae is small, ball dominant, limited as an off-ball player, and easy to trap. He lives on a difficult shot diet that's high-variance, and he's a defensive liability. There's a reason his teams haven't had a high ceiling.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

Trae limits his team in the playoffs since he is not a two way player. Trae is steph curry light. He is shorter,, not quite as elite of a shooter, doesn't move off the ball as well, more attitude, etc. Steph could hide behind Klay, Green, Kevon, Wiggins, and others who were all above average or elite defenders. It could be argued that Trae could do the same but I wouldn't see the Warriors being a dynasty with Trae instead of Steph.

Trae would require elite defense around him.

I prefer the fit of Luka and Lauri. It just sounds good too. Lauri is the perfect pairing with an alpha like Luka. Kessler, Hendricks, and Lauri are pretty darn good defenders to put around an elite scoring threat, but Luka plays with more gravity and he is a better passer than Trae. Lauri and Luka gets you top 3 in the west for years to come.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Trae limits his team in the playoffs since he is not a two way player. Trae is steph curry light. He is shorter,, not quite as elite of a shooter, doesn't move off the ball as well, more attitude, etc. Steph could hide behind Klay, Green, Kevon, Wiggins, and others who were all above average or elite defenders. It could be argued that Trae could do the same but I wouldn't see the Warriors being a dynasty with Trae instead of Steph.

Trae would require elite defense around him.

I prefer the fit of Luka and Lauri. It just sounds good too. Lauri is the perfect pairing with an alpha like Luka. Kessler, Hendricks, and Lauri are pretty darn good defenders to put around an elite scoring threat, but Luka plays with more gravity and he is a better passer than Trae. Lauri and Luka gets you top 3 in the west for years to come.

Wow you prefer Luka? That's crazy.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

Harden was an MVP level player and made the all star team 15 seasons in a row.
Trae ain't that.

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Harden played on much more talented and veteran-esk teams

Trae is small, ball dominant, limited as an off-ball player, and easy to trap. He lives on a difficult shot diet that's high-variance, and he's a defensive liability. There's a reason his teams haven't had a high ceiling.

His teams haven’t had high ceiling was that he hasn’t had a great team around him. It’s not because of Trae. Put him on some of those rocket teams and he’s in the top 12-15