Lauri Markkanen Discussion Thread

FranchisePlayer · Post #1441 » by **FranchisePlayer** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 8:55 pm

MissileMike wrote:

Read on Twitter

Whoah, thanks Mike!

FranchisePlayer · Post #1442 » by **FranchisePlayer** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:02 pm

HouseOfLight wrote:
BullChit wrote:
coldfish wrote:
Again, you are watching a different game than I am. On defense, Lauri is frequently so far out of position that he is in the wrong zip code. He exerts himself from time to time and his fans laud it but most of the time he just drifts around the court.

From what I saw last night, Lauri was benched for being lazy on defense.

I honestly don't understand what in the world Lauri has done to deserve such a diehard fanbase.

Sent from my CPH1979 using Tapatalk

....huh? ....Markkanen doesn’t have a fan base at all, let alone a “die hard” one. No one even knows who he is outside of Bulls fans, NBA junkies, and people that vaguely remember him for his 3p shooting during his rookie year. He’s an irrelevant non entity, some random euro stretch 4 that no one’s ever heard of. He doesn’t have a fan base or any semblance of a brand to speak of lol. Where on earth are you getting that he has a “die hard” fan base when the average sports fan wouldn’t be able to recognize him in a photo?

Where is he getting that...?

Gee, IDK, maybe from my avatar and other avatars that have Lauri's photo in them?

Gee, IDK, maybe from the fact that this thread is over 70 pages long unlike in any other player's case?

DUH!

BullChit · Post #1443 » by **BullChit** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:03 pm

HouseOfLight wrote:
BullChit wrote:
coldfish wrote:
Again, you are watching a different game than I am. On defense, Lauri is frequently so far out of position that he is in the wrong zip code. He exerts himself from time to time and his fans laud it but most of the time he just drifts around the court.

From what I saw last night, Lauri was benched for being lazy on defense.

I honestly don't understand what in the world Lauri has done to deserve such a diehard fanbase.

Sent from my CPH1979 using Tapatalk

....huh? ....Markkanen doesn’t have a fan base at all, let alone a “die hard” one. No one even knows who he is outside of Bulls fans, NBA junkies, and people that vaguely remember him for his 3p shooting during his rookie year. He’s an irrelevant non entity, some random euro stretch 4 that no one’s ever heard of. He doesn’t have a fan base or any semblance of a brand to speak of lol. Where on earth are you getting that he has a “die hard” fan base when the average sports fan wouldn’t be able to recognize him in a photo?

It's more a statement of the handful of posters on this very board who will defend Lauri tooth and nail even and run Zach into the ground constantly.

Lauri hasn't done anything in the NBA to get the kind of support these guys give him.

Had nothing to do with the larger context of sports fans.

chefo · Post #1444 » by **chefo** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:26 pm

SalmonsSuperfan wrote:
FriedRise wrote:

Read on Twitter

Between Vuc and Theis, Lauri now has a couple large Euro men to learn from. It’s a huge step up from WCJ, Gafford, and Kornet.

dubious about this claim. Finland, Germany and Montenegro/Serbia are pretty different places, I doubt there's some pan-European identity that connects these very different culturally and geographically places.
almost seems like cowley is saying lauri needs to be surrounded by white people in order to play good ball.

however, i'm OK with the fact that lauri will remain here for at least the rest of the season. let's see how he plays in his natural role as 3rd fiddle.

I don't think it's Euro so much as two older (while still young) and more mature married guys with young children, just like him. Man, once you got kids, work and kids is all you talk about with your buds. I can see how hanging out with a bunch of 21-year olds who (rightfully) want to enjoy the party life was not down Lauri's lane. Didn't WCJ call him a kitty-cat or some synonym for not wanting to party and get wasted in a strip joint or something with the other young players just last season?

SalmonsSuperfan · Post #1445 » by **SalmonsSuperfan** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:52 pm

chefo wrote:
SalmonsSuperfan wrote:
FriedRise wrote:

Read on Twitter

Between Vuc and Theis, Lauri now has a couple large Euro men to learn from. It’s a huge step up from WCJ, Gafford, and Kornet.

dubious about this claim. Finland, Germany and Montenegro/Serbia are pretty different places, I doubt there's some pan-European identity that connects these very different culturally and geographically places.
almost seems like cowley is saying lauri needs to be surrounded by white people in order to play good ball.

however, i'm OK with the fact that lauri will remain here for at least the rest of the season. let's see how he plays in his natural role as 3rd fiddle.

I don't think it's Euro so much as two older (while still young) and more mature married guys with young children, just like him. Man, once you got kids, work and kids is all you talk about with your buds. I can see how hanging out with a bunch of 21-year olds who (rightfully) want to enjoy the party life was not down Lauri's lane. Didn't WCJ call him a kitty-cat or some synonym for not wanting to party and get wasted in a strip joint or something with the other young players just last season?

Part of me thinks that having a kid at 19 or whatever lauri did probably negatively impacted his career trajectory than going to the club or something. It’s the opposite with Wendell seemingly, it struck me as weird when that recruiter/explayer (forget who) took him as a high schooler to a strip club

Post #1446 » by **coldfish** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:53 pm

If we get tons of posts complaining that Vucevic and Lavine aren't passing to Markkanen enough, my head will explode.

PaKii94 · Post #1447 » by **PaKii94** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:03 pm

coldfish wrote:If we get tons of posts complaining that Vucevic and Lavine aren't passing to Markkanen enough, my head will explode.

No worries in that regard. Vuc is a good passer. He'll find lauri when he's open like thad and unlike wcj/coby

Post #1448 » by **HomoSapien** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:07 pm

Read on Twitter

I'm actually interested in seeing how this trade impacts Lauri. A lot of the criticism geared towards him is a related to him not being a top-two option. I'm still not sold on him being the right third option, but I'm open to it and I think he'll look significantly better in that role. Lauri looked at his best next to Robin Lopez so hopefully Vuc can help Lauri in the same way.

GoBlue72391 · Post #1449 » by **GoBlue72391** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:29 pm

Leslie Forman wrote:
coldfish wrote:If I was the coach, I would play Thad and Vucevic off each other and not together. That way you always have a passing big man in the center and it may prevent some of those scoring droughts.

Theis is a decent passer himself.

This was clearly a screw the future, we're all-in now move. I think Lauri is just gonna be a 15-20MPG guy now. He's still here, but it's over for him.

You're in for a big disappointment if you seriously believe Lauri will only get 15-20 MPG.

ZOMG · Post #1450 » by **ZOMG** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:38 pm

HomoSapien wrote:

Read on Twitter

I'm actually interested in seeing how this trade impacts Lauri. A lot of the criticism geared towards him is a related to him not being a top-two option. I'm still not sold on him being the right third option, but I'm open to it and I think he'll look significantly better in that role. Lauri looked at his best next to Robin Lopez so hopefully Vuc can help Lauri in the same way.

With all that's happened with the trade deadline, anyone still remember all the cuts and dunks Lauri had in the Cavs game?

I think we just saw what his natural role will be with this new roster. Can't wait for all the hi-lo action he's gonna get with Vuc. Lauri has good instincts for working the baseline, and now he has a passer who will see him over the defense. When you have a 7 footer moving off the ball like that, it's a true matchup nightmare.

Dez · Post #1451 » by **Dez** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:43 pm

MissileMike wrote:

Read on Twitter

Really bodes well for the constructed narrative that everyone wants him and he has so much trade value.

If the Lauri fans were whining about his usage before then they should be furious now, he's in his right spot as a 3rd option.

Post #1452 » by **HomoSapien** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:45 pm

ZOMG wrote:
HomoSapien wrote:

Read on Twitter

I'm actually interested in seeing how this trade impacts Lauri. A lot of the criticism geared towards him is a related to him not being a top-two option. I'm still not sold on him being the right third option, but I'm open to it and I think he'll look significantly better in that role. Lauri looked at his best next to Robin Lopez so hopefully Vuc can help Lauri in the same way.

Wth all that's happened with the trade deadline, anyone still remember all the cuts and dunks Lauri had in the Cavs game?

I think we just saw what his natural role will be with this new roster. Can't wait for all the hi-lo action he's gonna get with Vuc. Lauri has good instincts for working the baseline, and now he has a passer who will see him over the defense. When you have a 7 footer moving off the ball like that, it's a true matchup nightmare.

That's a good point. He was used so dramatically different than normal last game, that I wonder if the Bulls had some sort of inclination that Vuc could be a possibility and wanted to basically run some experimental sets against the Cavs. If he can cut like that normally, it's going to be a game changer. The best version of Lauri is the one that attacks the rim like Tom Chambers, not the one that camps out at the three-point line like Davis Bertans.

FriedRise · Post #1453 » by **FriedRise** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:46 pm

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Dez · Post #1454 » by **Dez** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:49 pm

FriedRise wrote:

Read on Twitter

He'll start initially but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't close games because of his defense and they'll throw Thad or Thiess out there in crunch time.

PaKii94 · Post #1455 » by **PaKii94** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:58 pm

Secondary benefit of this is Lauri now has a big man mentor who can challenge him in practice and help him develop his game. Vuc's a really good model for him. He's another poor rim protection but neutral not-defense-breaking defender.

ZOMG · Post #1456 » by **ZOMG** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:58 pm

Dez wrote:
MissileMike wrote:

Read on Twitter

Really bodes well for the constructed narrative that everyone wants him and he has so much trade value.

If the Lauri fans were whining about his usage before then they should be furious now, he's in his right spot as a 3rd option.

I don't think there was any such narrative about trade value. Before the deadline, I wrote that I expected some teams to throw s**t at the wall (see: Wiz) but that the more serious suitors would come out of the woodwork in the offseason, as is usual when a guy like this an RFA. I also said I didn't expect to see a trade.

So far I've been right. We'll see what happens in the end.

Leslie Forman · Post #1457 » by **Leslie Forman** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:21 am

GoBlue72391 wrote:
Leslie Forman wrote:
coldfish wrote:If I was the coach, I would play Thad and Vucevic off each other and not together. That way you always have a passing big man in the center and it may prevent some of those scoring droughts.

Theis is a decent passer himself.

This was clearly a screw the future, we're all-in now move. I think Lauri is just gonna be a 15-20MPG guy now. He's still here, but it's over for him.

You're in for a big disappointment if you seriously believe Lauri will only get 15-20 MPG.

There's only 96 minutes at the 4/5.

Vucevic low 30s? Let's say 33. Thad? Probably sticks around 25. Theis? At least Vucevic's backup minutes. That's 15 right there. Probably a little more, since he's the only thing even vaguely resembling a center here that plays good defense.

This leaves only 23 minutes a game at the 4/5. You have to figure either Pat or Aminu will get some minutes at the 4 here and there.

So yeah. 20 sounds about right.

Chi town · Post #1458 » by **Chi town** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:33 am

Dez wrote:
MissileMike wrote:

Read on Twitter

Really bodes well for the constructed narrative that everyone wants him and he has so much trade value.

If the Lauri fans were whining about his usage before then they should be furious now, he's in his right spot as a 3rd option.

WAS's 1st will be top 5 in a stacked class. Obvious no trade.

GrowingHorns · Post #1459 » by **GrowingHorns** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:53 am

Chi town wrote:
Dez wrote:
MissileMike wrote:

Read on Twitter

Really bodes well for the constructed narrative that everyone wants him and he has so much trade value.

If the Lauri fans were whining about his usage before then they should be furious now, he's in his right spot as a 3rd option.

WAS's 1st will be top 5 in a stacked class. Obvious no trade.

Was just coming into say the same thing.

I am one of Lauri fans but as most of us, we aren't blind. Who the heck would give up a great pick for a project player that Lauri still is - wiz pick's ballpark would be to get an all-star in some package. With some obvious upside, but even more things to work on to get to the next level, Lauri didn't get there (yet).

sco · Post #1460 » by **sco** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:57 am

GrowingHorns wrote:
Chi town wrote:
Dez wrote:
Really bodes well for the constructed narrative that everyone wants him and he has so much trade value.

If the Lauri fans were whining about his usage before then they should be furious now, he's in his right spot as a 3rd option.

WAS's 1st will be top 5 in a stacked class. Obvious no trade.

Was just coming into say the same thing.

I am one of Lauri fans but as most of us, we aren't blind. Who the heck would give up a great pick for a project player that Lauri still is - wiz pick's ballpark would be to get an all-star in some package. With some obvious upside, but even more things to work on to get to the next level, Lauri didn't get there (yet).

I would have taken a protected 2022 pick.