The Lauri Thread

[SoberasHotRod]

Lots of interesting questions around Lauri, especially as we get towards the off season when he can be traded.

- His numbers are down this year, are we worried? He doesn't seem to be moving as well this year.
- How long is he willing to play for a non playoff team?
- How soon are we able to build a playoff team that can eventually compete for a title with Lauri?
- Does Lauri fit in with our timeline/how has our timeline shifted with the Hendricks injury and Cody being so far behind?
- What is Lauri's trade value? How does that change in the off season?
- How does the 2026 draft impact the decision to trade Lauri?
- How does our pick owed to OKC with top 8 protection impact our decision to trade Lauri?

Bottom Line: Should we look to trade Lauri this coming off season?

(Might add more questions later)

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

I think Lauri should be traded next offseason, but it's very unlikely he gets traded next offseason.

His trade value has obviously declined a huge amount since the 2024 trade deadline and Ainge would be under a huge amount of heat if he traded Lauri for two firsts this summer when maybe he could have gotten 5 at the 2024 deadline.

Ainge can maybe get away with it if he gets Flagg or Harper, but if he gets a more marginal prospect, then he's probably in Save His Job mode and that doesn't fit with a Lauri trade.

 

[oldtimer]

how often do the jazz find a good player that wants to live and play in Utah? Lauri purposefully signed his extention when he did so Utah could not trade him this year. that has to be a major factor in Utah's decision making. I get it, his time line does not match Utah's. It would take a lot for me to trade Lauri and we certainly are not in any hurry. so if someone offers the sun and moon maybe i would trade him. i just am in no rush and would be happy to keep him.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Thanks for starting this.

I’m concerned. He is playing meaningfully worse. They need to ice him until he’s 100% (sincerely), then let him go nuts for stretches of the schedule with stiff competition and/or sit other people when he’s healed up. Seems hobbled to me and there really is no reason to be playing hobbled in this season of all seasons.

 

[fishonjazz]

I was of the opinion that we should keep him and try to start building a winning team next year. But that was last off season pre Hendricks injury, pre Cody Williams sucking more than anyone ever sucked, and pre realizing that Key was going to stink again this year.

I have switched my stance completely. Trade him asap and tank again next year.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I was of the opinion that we should keep him and try to start building a winning team next year. But that was last off season pre Hendricks injury, pre Cody Williams sucking more than anyone ever sucked, and pre realizing that Key was going to stink again this year.

I have switched my stance completely. Trade him asap and tank again next year.

Well unless he starts looking better, he may have gone from an asset to a millstone.

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

Lauri probably just put on way too much weight last summer.

Jazz training staff should tell him to dump some weight so he can jump again.

I am a little traumatized by the Jazz never telling Favors to dump that 20 pounds of muscle that killed his athleticism and probably contributed to destroying his back and knees.

We had a really bad strength and conditioning staff in that era...

Why did he need to be 265...

 

[HeatCheck]

I don't have any answers but my gut feeling is they did want to build a competitive team with Lauri.

Now less than 2 months into the season, it appears with the Hendricks injury and the rawness of their draft picks, especially Cody, they have been set back at least a year on the rebuild. If Lauri is fine missing the playoffs, missing games to fake "injuries", etc the next few seasons then sure keep him. My guess is it might be best for both sides if they part ways next offseason assuming of course the offers are there for him.

 

[r_u_s_t_b_u_c_k_e_t]

Well unless he starts looking better, he may have gone from an asset to a millstone.

he's probably just getting dragged down by the trash players we are putting out there with him. that being said, if we blow our first round pick again this summer, probably have to give up and trade him away.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

and pre realizing that Key was going to stink again this year.

I don’t think he’s sucked at all he’s a victim of being on a really bad team. Before all those players got traded last year he was looking very good then the trade deadline happened and he wasn’t the same. Hes actually gotten better at running an offense. He has more developing to do but I’ve been encouraged. Let’s also not forget he’s only 21 years old. I think he’s going to be very good.

I was of the opinion that we should keep him and try to start building a winning team next year. But that was last off season pre Hendricks injury, pre Cody Williams sucking more than anyone ever sucked, and pre realizing that Key was going to stink again this year.

I have switched my stance completely. Trade him asap and tank again next year.

Im not sure we will be able to trade Lauri on his contract.

he's probably just getting dragged down by the trash players we are putting out there with him. that being said, if we blow our first round pick again this summer, probably have to give up and trade him away.

Team is much worse and he’s contending with 3 ball dominant combo guards. If he were playing on GS he’d be getting 25+ a game.

 

[fishonjazz]

I don’t think he’s sucked at all he’s a victim of being on a really bad team.

Ok, you can say he's sucked because he is on a really bad team. Either way he sucked last year and has sucked this year. It would be much better if he didn't suck. Like Sexton, Flip, collins, kessler. Who also are victims of being on a very bad team.
Keyonte this season is shooting a worse 3 point percentage, worse 2 point percentage, (worse field goal percentage as well of course) and worse free throw percentage than he was last season. He is also rebounding worse this year. He has about the same assist to turnover ratio as last year which is really bad. His effort is often extremely poor this season and his defense sucks. Last year he was one of the worst players in the league. So far this year he might be even worse. I thought he was going to be better this year by a decent amount. Still might. But just not so far. Which sucks imo.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Like most off ball scorers, you can't separate Lauri from the guys he plays with. IMO, he mostly didn't look great last year (even when healthy) despite putting up his usual stats, but this season, he's obviously struggling mightily as the roster is a garbage fire of epic proportions and teams are finding it easier than ever to make his life difficult.

I agree Lauri's not moving well or getting elevation, but I don't think he's injured – it's more likely that he's once again carrying too much muscle and it's slowing him down. It's kind of bizarre he went that route for no reason, since excessive bulking up almost destroyed his career back on the Bulls. I thouht it was well established that the lighter he is, the better he plays.

My stance has always been that Lauri should be traded ASAP because the timelines simply aren't compatible. I also think that he may not be that far away from the point where nasty chronic injuries start showing up due to his ultra taxing play style for a big guy. The guy has a **** ton of miles on his legs.

Ainge nuked Lauri's trade value by first giving him a max deal and then surrounding him with a G-League team full of guys who can't pass. There's probably still quite a few GM's who remember his glory days and would give up a large pile of assets though. But the trade needs to happen next summer and Lauri needs to stay healthy.