What's new

What's the point of keeping Lauri anymore?

As Andy Larsen pointed out, Lauri has been the 13th best player in the NBA this season. It's completely unheard of for a rebuilding team to stumble on a 25/26 year old guy this good/valuable and not try to either turn him into assets even more suitable for its overall timeline OR, much more likely, start building around him ASAP.

We may still see the former option come to pass after Lauri signs his renegotiated extension, but the latter is definitely not happening.

It just feels like the fanbase sees Lauri as part of the scenery and doesn't fully realize that the likelihood of the Jazz drafting/acquiring a player as good as him within the next decade is almost zero.
I started a different thread on what I think the plan is. I think some of the ammo we will get from these last 30 games could be beneficial to Lauri long term. I'm cool with the patience we are showing now. There were no moves that had me super excited. I would say by trade deadline next year the "plan" needs to be more firm and we need to have added around him. He will be good for a long time and his trade value will be good for a long time. He may end up being too far ahead of our timeline without the ability to add to him... for now I'm satisfied with what we did.
 
He will be good for a long time and his trade value will be good for a long time.
People keep saying this but IMO it's unwise to assume that Lauri stays healthy/productive far on the wrong side of 30.

He's a legit 7 footer who was a one-and-done and has probably logged more miles in the NBA than any big over the seven years he's been in the league. Lauri's style of play is extremely taxing on the body and he averages 30mpg over his career. It's not crazy to suggest that his longevity may suffer as a result.

Markkanen often gets compared with Dirk, but their playing styles are like night and day. Dirk saved energy by setting up shop at the high post while the offense moved around him (not to mention that be played in a league that had a LOT slower pace and less spacing), while Lauri battles for position and separation off ball like he's Reggie Miller.

Even if Lauri changes his game a bit when he hits 30, we can safely assume that his prime, both basketball-wise and physically, is taking place right now. What happens after his forthcoming extension is anyone's guess.
 
Last edited:
People keep saying this but IMO it's unwise to assume that Lauri stays healthy/productive far on the wrong side of 30.

He's a legit 7 footer who was a one-and-done and has probably logged more miles in the NBA than any big over the seven years he's been in the league. Lauri's style of play is extremely taxing on the body and he averages 30mpg over his career. It's not crazy to suggest that his longevity may suffer as a result.

Even if he changes his game a bit when he hits 30, we can safely assume that his best years physically are going to take place during his forthcoming extension deal. What happens after that is anyone's guess.
yeah maybe so. Thats not a huge concern for us right now. In the middle term he will be very good. If we can't put talent around him you trade him before he gets there. If you trade him now and then Key, Taylor become good... or you strike lotto gold... or you uncover a good trade. You may wish you had waited. I think the runway is like 8-18 months where you need to start really considering moving Lauri.
 
yeah maybe so. Thats not a huge concern for us right now. In the middle term he will be very good. If we can't put talent around him you trade him before he gets there. If you trade him now and then Key, Taylor become good... or you strike lotto gold... or you uncover a good trade. You may wish you had waited. I think the runway is like 8-18 months where you need to start really considering moving Lauri.

Edited and added to my post above, sorry about that
 
We were heading to a first round exit, if we made the playoffs at all. Not a historic upset.

I don't even like the trades, but we can still retool around Lauri in the off-season.
Two wins over bucks, demolishing Nuggets, tough road tour.... Aaa d back at beating... Hol up, checking it... Yep,Bucks and thunder.

We were on route of being the story of the century. I have seen lots of movies, I know my stuff!
 
Not if they're so valuable that they could be used to acquire a bunch of expensive assets that fit the contending timeline of the team much better. The coming 3-4 years will be pretty rough and it really makes no sense to waste the entirety of Lauri's prime over a stretch like that.

Lauri will renegotiate and extend but it remains to be seen if he's gonna be around much longer after that.
So you don't think teams like keeping all stars on their roster then.
That explains all the all stars who got moved today. Including Lauri
I'm gonna miss him but it will be fun watching what he does on his new team once I figure out just where the hell he got traded to

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk
 
So you don't think teams like keeping all stars on their roster then.
That explains all the all stars who got moved today. Including Lauri
I'm gonna miss him but it will be fun watching what he does on his new team once I figure out just where the hell he got traded to
Top 20 guys usually play on teams that are trying to contend. Either now or in the very near future. So no **** they're not getting traded.

Lauri is unique in that he's a youngish top 20 guy on a team that just got worse on purpose. That just doesn't happen.

As I said, the only two really logical/conventional options for the Jazz are/were:

1) Flip Lauri for future assets
2) Build around him right now with the pile of assets they have
 
Top 20 guys usually play on teams that are trying to contend. Either now or in the very near future. So no **** they're not getting traded.

Lauri is unique in that he's a youngish top 20 guy on a team that just got worse on purpose. That just doesn't happen.

As I said, the only two really logical/conventional options for the Jazz are/were:

1) Flip Lauri for future assets
2) Build around him right now with the pile of assets they have
You still haven't responded to my post.
I posted that teams like to keep all stars players on their team.

You did your whole sky is falling routine but teams still like to keep all stars on their team even after your routine.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk
 
It’s frustrating… but there has to be a top 20 player available to get. So they are keeping themselves in a position to pull the trigger when it becomes possible.
 
Back
Top