WCJ or Lauri

[jnrjr79]

Wendell is really good, and glue guys like him who do lots of little things that don't end up on the stat sheet can be underrated. He's an efficient double-double machine who doesn't need the ball and still could develop as a more aggressive shooter.

Also, like others have said, this conversation is purely academic because Wendell and Lauri complement (not compliment, come on people, we can do this!) each other pretty well.

In any event, for me the answer is pretty clearly Lauri. He has shown flashes of being a kind of offensive force that Wendell will never be. Yes, Wendell will be the better defender and rebounder, almost assuredly. But Lauri could be a guy who averages near 40% from 3, but can also put the ball on the floor (and push it himself off rebounds) and aggressively attack the rim. He could be a remarkable offensive player. Like anyone else, I'm troubled by the fact that he regressed so badly at the beginning of the season, but I'll be patient before writing him off. It seems he may have had a physical issue and I believe he is being held back by one of the worst coaches in the NBA. Frankly, I won't feel good assessing either player until they've had a season or two playing under someone competent. But for now, with the Bulls having no real star players, I'd have to stick with Lauri's upside if forced to choose.

[TallDude]

Wendell Carter is a better basketball player than Lauri Markkanen, and it's not particularly close. For all the complaints about how the Bulls misuse Markkanen, you could argue that they misuse Carter just as bad, if not worse. If we had to choose (and we don't), then Carter is the easy pick.

WCJ is more easily replace than Lauri. And Lauri wins games. Wendell don`t. Today Lauri is far better. It is really easy to find 6`9 center. He is making still those stupid fouls. But he is getting better hopefully also in that area. Sadly he always will be short center.

[wonderboy2]

Glad we don’t have to make this decision since they both compliment eachother and play different positions. Carter is a good rebounder actually elite on the offensive board. Excellent defender and is going to only get better on offense. I’m not giving up on Markannan just have to get stronger and build his confidence level back up.

[Andi Obst]

I would go with WCJ, but I'm glad that I don't have to make that decision and neither do the Bulls. I like them both.

The ridiculous narrative that WCJ is too small will probably never go away on this board. Using size as the deciding argument here is like using PER to compare players in 2019.

[drosereturn]

Why is Lauri so beloved? He doesn’t create his own shots, he’s not a facilitator, he is a below average defender, he has no multi-position ability, he doesn’t generate blocks or steals, he rebounds average at best, he’s soft and he has injury issues (and potentially mental issues).

What does he do? Shoot? He’s at 35.6% 3s for his career. I just don’t get it. He’s a secondary or tertiary scorer that adds little in other areas.

If he did what you all said, he would be a MVP candidate, aka Giannis. What he has shown has been underwhelming but its all about the potential. If he can achieve ceiling, this is a guy that could get the supermax. Theres like less than 5 guys in the NBA that can do what Lauri does.

[drosereturn]

Here are some contracts that could be used to help gauge Lauri's asking price:

Kristaps Porzingis, PF
Signed a 5 year $158.25 million maximum contract with Dallas (DAL)

Julius Randle, PF
Signed a 3 year $62.1 million contract with New York (NYK)

Pascal Siakam, PF
Signed a 4 year $130 million rookie contract extension with Toronto (TOR)

Jaylen Brown, SG
Signed a 4 year $107 million rookie contract extension with Boston (BOS)

Domantas Sabonis, C
Signed a 4 year $77 million contract extension with Indiana (IND)

Al Horford, C
Signed a 4 year $109 million contract with Philadelphia (PHI)

D'Angelo Russell, PG
Signed a 4 year $117 million maximum contract with Brooklyn (BKN) as part of a Sign-and-Trade with Golden State (GSW)

Bojan Bogdanovic, SF
Signed a 4 year $73.1 million contract with Utah (UTH)

Nikola Vucevic, C
Signed a 4 year $100 million contract with Orlando (ORL)

Draymond Green, PF
Signed a 4 year $99.67 million contract extension with Golden State (GSW)

Pax

So I think we're looking at 4 years $70-$75 million for Lauri.

Just no. Look at washed up donkey and Horford who are all worse and they get paid 25/yr.
Which is why I am saying 4yr max should be handed off now to keep him happy.
If things dont work out, just trade him like DAR. But you need to offer contract to do that.

[Hold That]

As years go by it’s going to be harder to find a Wendell h than it will be to find a player like Lauri... kids are shooting more three’s than layups, even the bigs. But hardly any of them know how to defend. I’m keeping Wendell.

Besides Lauris camp is already complaining for him across the pond. He’s just one more summer time visit away from them being in his ear to say he needs to go public. Same situation the Knicks had to deal with when it came to Porzingis

[cjbulls]

Why is Lauri so beloved? He doesn’t create his own shots, he’s not a facilitator, he is a below average defender, he has no multi-position ability, he doesn’t generate blocks or steals, he rebounds average at best, he’s soft and he has injury issues (and potentially mental issues).

What does he do? Shoot? He’s at 35.6% 3s for his career. I just don’t get it. He’s a secondary or tertiary scorer that adds little in other areas.

If he did what you all said, he would be a MVP candidate, aka Giannis. What he has shown has been underwhelming but its all about the potential. If he can achieve ceiling, this is a guy that could get the supermax. Theres like less than 5 guys in the NBA that can do what Lauri does.

What does he do?

[BigUps]

Sadly, I don't see more than a role player in either guy. If I could move them for more picks or a player, I probably would. I like them as role players, but we need a legit star and until we get one people will think we can develop one of these guys into a star.

[cjbulls]

Sadly, I don't see more than a role player in either guy. If I could move them for more picks or a player, I probably would. I like them as role players, but we need a legit star and until we get one people will think we can develop one of these guys into a star.

The problem with trading role players for star lottery tickets (which is what you’re suggesting) is that even when you win that lottery (which means waiting for years upon years most likely) it’s harder to develop that star without other good role players around. It’s also hard to add role players once you have the star and the star ends up leaving.

[jacoby1us]

Neither.
They’re both young with serious potential. With the right system in place they could certainly exceed their potential.

[Leslie Forman]

Neither of these guys have a high ceiling. There's a reason they were #7 picks and not #3 picks.

They both:
- have no versatility, offensively or defensively
- lack offensive skill on the ball
- have oil tankers for feet

This is Eddy Curry/Tyson Chandler all over again. "Perfect pairing" my ass. "They're young!" doesn't even work, because you always have a pretty damn good idea of what a big man is by their third season. I'm struggling to come up with a single All-NBA big man who wasn't showing the kind of player they were going to be by their third year except maybe Jermaine O'Neal, which was through no fault of his own. There's never been a Jimmy Butler of centers, in other words.

Unless Wendell starts crossing people over, draining threes, and guarding point guards next year, these guys are pretty much what they are. It's only small gains from here on out.

[DuckIII]

Besides Lauris camp is already complaining for him across the pond. He’s just one more summer time visit away from them being in his ear to say he needs to go public. Same situation the Knicks had to deal with when it came to Porzingis

To me this is the more interesting point than whether they make sense together or whom we prefer. I think it may come down not to preference but to a choice made by the players themselves.

There’s smoke out there that Lauri might not like being a Bull. It may ultimately come down to that.

[DuckIII]

This is Eddy Curry/Tyson Chandler all over again.

Both players are the virtual opposite of their counterpart in this extremely poor analogy. Though admittedly they do play the same positions as listed in a box score.

[Leslie Forman]

This is Eddy Curry/Tyson Chandler all over again.

Both players are the virtual opposite of their counterpart in this extremely poor analogy. Though admittedly they do play the same positions as listed in a box score.

You're right, it's disrespectful.

Curry and Chandler actually had high ceilings.

[mtron32]

I'd keep Lauri no question, WCJ butter fingers and dumb fouls are wearing thin

[DuckIII]

This is Eddy Curry/Tyson Chandler all over again.

Both players are the virtual opposite of their counterpart in this extremely poor analogy. Though admittedly they do play the same positions as listed in a box score.

You're right, it's disrespectful.

Curry and Chandler actually had high ceilings.

It’s not about respect, it’s about accuracy. It’s a bad comp. And the only reason you made it was because they busted as Bulls. Not because of their ceilings.

[beeshma]

I would have said Lauri. But I just heard a trade idea that the Bulls trade Zach and Coby to the Sixers for Ben Simmons. new frontcourt Simmons, Lauri, WCJ.

I'm not saying this will happen, but it just made me realize that we have to think bigger. How do we transform this roster so we leap into contender status? There must be a way to do that, instead of making small piddling changes.

[VolumePoster]

Besides Lauris camp is already complaining for him across the pond. He’s just one more summer time visit away from them being in his ear to say he needs to go public. Same situation the Knicks had to deal with when it came to Porzingis

To me this is the more interesting point than whether they make sense together or whom we prefer. I think it may come down not to preference but to a choice made by the players themselves.

There’s smoke out there that Lauri might not like being a Bull. It may ultimately come down to that.

I think it's highly likely he doesn't like being a Bull.

The coach is a phony buffoon. The management are sycophantic cronies. The city and owner are increasingly disinterested. Your "star" is Zach Lavine.

If I was Lauri, I would be looking elsewhere as well.

[transplant]

At this point, both are good players, but neither is a great player. I strongly believe that both will have very good NBA careers. In a vacuum, I'm happy to keep both of them. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.