Offseason Plan + Lauri Thread

[Thee Jazz Fan]

Yep. A strong 2 year youth movement would be ideal.

To tank the next two years I think we need to trade Lauri and I’m good with that. It’s a gamble but has the potential to make us much better in the long run.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

I'm all for helping the nets but I want those suns picks so let's send them Lauri and let's not screw around and make this a rock solid 2 year tank. I want a top 5 pick in 25 and 26.

I could see the Nets doing this. They'd build around Donovan, Bridges and Lauri, then delay an extensions for Lauri and Donovan long enough to bring a decent free agent. They'd need to get someone to take Ben Simmons' contract. Nets would be a good team. Not sure they'd be a contending team though.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

On one hand, I do think we should be playing the draft game. On the other hand, do we even need to trade Lauri to play the draft game? Should we trade him anyways?

If DET or HOU puts Ausar/Amen on the table, are we biting? I think Amen is so impressive. I think I would do it and prefer a package where you get an elite prospect versus more random picks.

I think we got Lauri in that trade as a throw in, basically we got him for next to nothing. Trading him for maximum value or close to could really catapult this team to new highs over the next 10-12 years.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Tbh, I don't think there is a premium prospect in this year's draft. Of course there will be all stars in this draft, but even if we get the #1 pick I'm not really thinking we have a premium prospect.

I think a top 10 pick is still better than a random future pick... so I would give it a boost. Especially if its top 4. Like would you rather have a top 4 pick in this draft or the Cavs 2025 pick we own?

I don't think the Kings have enough juice for me. Not really excited about owning their picks when they have Sabonis, Fox, and Lauri locked up. They are the Kings, but still not that great IMO. Don't think Keegan is that amazing either.

Kangs gonna Kang. I think they likely hover between play in and playoff team with the group they have. Lauri would be a flight risk as they would not be able to extend him. The swaps could add a ton of value if we loop in several picks. They could also send the 13th pick on draft night.

Thunder have a lot of volume, those Clippers picks might also be considered premium but I think NBA players will always flock there. They won't be putting their actual premium picks on the line. Think Giddey is fine, but not great.

Giddey is whatevs... I'd ask about Wallace. I think getting our pick obligation taken care of as well as the additional picks they have (they have a lot of swappy stuff that is hard to follow). Its not ideal but they have a late lotto pick this year too. Its more of a volume deal that we don't need... so not ideal. I wonder if you could reroute Giddey or if you just keep him and see if he's a long term guy.

GSW....eh Idk. I like Kuminga, don't love the package they could put together.

Not a Kuminga fan either. I just think that team is capped out and about to age out big time. So their draft future could be really nice. Not sure Lauri would want to stay there long term. Its a great franchise but a tough city to raise kids in unless you really like that sort of thing. I would not want to live there and sometimes a long weekend is too much tbh.

DET and HOU are the two teams that interest me the most, don't know if they want to play ball though.

Detroit has that protected pick that would need to be worked around. I do think they are much more likely to send Ausar than Houston would to send Amen. I also think Houston has more interesting pieces and is going to be more willing to deal. It also creates one more potential playoff team to crowd the Wolves out if they have injuries.

If Detroit wanted to send Ausar and their pick this year plus maybe a swap in the next year or two I would consider that. They also can do the renegotiate and extend and they have Lauri's homey already.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I could see the Nets doing this. They'd build around Donovan, Bridges and Lauri, then delay an extensions for Lauri and Donovan long enough to bring a decent free agent. They'd need to get someone to take Ben Simmons' contract. Nets would be a good team. Not sure they'd be a contending team though.

They don't have the assets to trade for both lauri and Don imo. Don requires a few picks and Cam Johnson... Lauri also requires a few picks they then would not have.

 

[tksavis]

I think the '25 draft is a fairly strong one. I wouldn't call it generational. Of the players I've seen so far in the '25 class, Ace Bailey is probably the best at creating looks for himself and knocking many of them down. He fits the blueprint for a 1st-option scorer. He's like a young Paul George. VJ Edgecombe is a solid athlete with the potential for 3-level scoring at 6'4" or so. *Maybe* he's projectable to become something in the same ballpark as Anthony Edwards....maybe, but that's being optimistic. Cooper Flagg is interesting, but I wouldn't bet the house that he's going to become an unstoppable offensive force. He's not elite off the dribble right now. He might draw a double-team and make the right read though.

I would tank for the draft, but I wouldn't trade Lauri to do it. It's not easy to find an All Star-caliber 7-footer with 50-40-88 splits who also likes being in the mountains.

I think the key point here is "who also likes being in the [UT] mountains". Really hard to find starts who are happy here. We need to keep him if we can find a way to make doing so work with our timeline.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Agreed. Lauri needs to be in on it or "injured" for most of the year because he is good enough to pull us into another 8-14 pick level with any reasonable supporting cast.

I think with how the west will line up next year we could be bottom 7 fairly organically. Bottom 5 if we move on from Sexton and abstain using our cap space for guys like John Collins. The top 12-13 teams in the West next year are going to be tough to compete with. Inevitably a team or two drop out because of injury but still.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

@KqWIN Ausar has a blot clot issue that is kind of worrisome. Not sure how altitude bothers that or if its a long term issue... assume it isn't. Would you take Ausar and their top 4 pick this year for Lauri or do you want more?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Listening to Ainge's end of season presser now. Already one "almost Ainge". I take all of these pressers with all the grains of salt... I don't think front offices should be all that transparent... so its not criticism. It does sound like they are still looking for the star trade.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Talking a lot about optionality. Flexibility.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Talking about how nothing is guaranteed and how you can't have a set plan as things change. Talked about how they thought they were getting KD in the draft in Boston and then slid to #5 and KG and Ray Allen became available.

I think its all about opportunity with Ainge... not sure if that is good or bad lol.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

DA also said he doesnt want to come to camp with 6 players under 20. Said its not option A, B, or C