Who would you rather keep, Lauri Markkanen or John Collins? (Please read scenario)

[rjfan]

And Lauri's contract doesn't really concerns me. Jazz ain't using cap space to get game changing fa signings, nor do they currently have any young players to be getting max to near max rookie extensions in the next 3 years outside of Kessler (whom I fear much more being someone we could be better off trading him than paying his next salary If it gets towards/upwards that $30mi+ threshold).

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

2. For his entire career Markkanen has been a player who gets injured a lot: he usually plays <60 games per season. It is certainly a concern.

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People will probably vote based on how certain they are that Lauri could return to his All Star form in the future and maintain it. I honestly do not know.

While Lauri has had several minor injuries, it also has to be noted, almost every season aside the Cavs stint, has been with tanking teams. You take your time with any minor thing at those situation, and probably avoid using too many cortisone shots and such, as for the long term health they're not good for anyone.

That said, Lauri has had minor back issues earlier in his career, and now he had them again. If they were not only for tanking to keep him out so much, that's not something that wouldn't be a no -factor. Lauri thrives from off-ball production, and he needs to move a lot. If there's any indications that his back issues keep going on, we won't see the all star Lauri again. He landed hard on his hip in the early part of this season so that might have affected quite much at that period.

Later in this season I saw flashes of old Lauri, when we decided to go with Collier starting. He had few nice games and then Jazz needed to tank hard against the bottom dwellers. Any spark Lauri had in that early 2025 week or two was killed by that and he just seemed not interested at all when he played some games here and there after it. Such a weird season.

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I don't think Lauri can return to his All star form in current Jazz, and if he can in 2-3 seasons when Jazz might try compete,is left to be seen. But I think he can product closely as well in a place that's not tanking another season, and has less rookies in the team.

I see merit in both trading him,but also keeping him and hope Jazz lands a star on this draft and maybe trade for another one.

 

[NUMBERICA]

And Lauri's contract doesn't really concerns me. Jazz ain't using cap space to get game changing fa signings, nor do they currently have any young players to be getting max to near max rookie extensions in the next 3 years outside of Kessler (whom I fear much more being someone we could be better off trading him than paying his next salary If it gets towards/upwards that $30mi+ threshold).

1. It’s a super long contract. By the time it expires, there will absolutely be significant opportunity costs to keeping it for its duration
2. The new CBA is in the process of eliminating fake max contracts and I would say Lauri is a fake max player (that in the past may have been worth a max when they were getting doled out willy nilly).
3. You can do numerous other things with cap space besides trying to poach other teams’ max players.
4. If the Jazz are trying to tank again this upcoming season, I think they basically gotta do it more organically/ethically than last year’s fake injury fest, and getting rid of Lauri helps with that.
5. I’m glad you brought up Walker; I think I agree with you on that front, but I also think Walker is more worthy of $30 million a year than Lauri is worth $50 million a year (for 5 whole years holy smokes).

 

[Jiipee84]

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIrnuR8S1j0/?img_index=1

Should Jazz do this trade.
Think Lauri with Fox, Castle and Wemby.
Yes probably not championship contender but legit playoff team many years to come for sure.

 

[bigmike]

Feels like a no-brainer. Collins is not a long-term fit, Lauri could be, and we'd be selling low on Lauri right now.

 

[Jiipee84]

Feels like a no-brainer. Collins is not a long-term fit, Lauri could be, and we'd be selling low on Lauri right now.

Maybe.
But still Jazz should pick their poison.

If it would be like this what Jazz should to do.
1 Trade Lauri keep Collins and tank hard next 2-3 years and draft TOP10 every time.
2 Keep Lauri and Collins and win 30+ games and hang-on in play in spot and draft somewhere TOP 20-25 and lose one 1st round pick to OKC.
3 Trade Collins keep Lauri and tank hard next 3-5 yrs and waste most of Lauri's prime years.

 

[efukillar]

If the Jazz were to bring in Cooper Flagg, they could tank another round and get another top forward in the '26 draft, leaving them with two quality forward prospects. Then, the Jazz would have both Collins and Markkanen on the trade block the moment they pick Cooper. If they don't get the No. 1 pick? They'd just trade Collins and tell Markkanen, "Oh, we're going to be together forever."

 

[efukillar]

Maybe.
But still Jazz should pick their poison.

If it would be like this what Jazz should to do.
1 Trade Lauri keep Collins and tank hard next 2-3 years and draft TOP10 every time.
2 Keep Lauri and Collins and win 30+ games and hang-on in play in spot and draft somewhere TOP 20-25 and lose one 1st round pick to OKC.
3 Trade Collins keep Lauri and tank hard next 3-5 yrs and waste most of Lauri's prime years.

Jazz has already finished last in the season with Markkanen and Collins. Next season will be no different. No matter what the roster is made of, the important thing is to make the process work for the results.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think the one thing we know for sure is that Ainge isnt going to trade Lauri for an average trade package. I think a team would have to blow Utah away.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

I think the one thing we know for sure is that Ainge isnt going to trade Lauri for an average trade package. I think a team would have to blow Utah away.

This is the biggest reason I still think the trade will happen earliest at 2026. Lauri might have to need to have a better season to get Ainge what he wants in the possible trade.

I see some Spurs mock trades flying around in the interwebs, but they also have to consider the salary cap in few seasons, when Wemby's extension comes on table. I see them only going all in if they really think they can build a contender for next two seasons around Fox, Wemby and Lauri, that as a trio, could score 75ppg if things go as planned. But they also have to be thinking what ifs .. "Do we offer enough for Ainge to bite? Is it too much?" But NBA sometimes needs smaller or bigger risks to get them championships.

 

[KqWIN]

I think the one thing we know for sure is that Ainge isnt going to trade Lauri for an average trade package. I think a team would have to blow Utah away.

I agree, and that means he's likely staying. He's definitely not going to get better offers than last summer, so he's not going to be blown away.

 

[KqWIN]

I'm becoming more warm to the idea of another tank+Lauri season, but it is non-negotiable that Sexton and Collins be gone in exchange. It doesn't matter if we give them away for free, being stubborn is a recipe for disaster.