#2 for Lauri

[Chinook]

People don't understand how much of Mark's value last off-season was due to how easy it was to match his salary. It's not just about if he was "worth" his contract or not. Teams that wanted him didn't need to break up their rosters to provide the necessary ballast. Most good teams don't have the extra salary to match $42 Million, especially if the tax/apron comes into play.

Like this thread has the Spurs trading Vassell and Johnson. On RGM, those are thought of a "bad contracts" that the Spurs are gaining value by moving. However, this time last year, the Spurs could have just taken Mark in to cap space. So no need to move Devin or Keldon if they like them; no need to add picks to absorb them if they don't. It was clean.

So yeah, he doesn't have anywhere close to the market he used to. The only way the Jazz's handling of Lauri wasn't a colossal miscalculation if they quit the tanking plan and start trying to win with him. It's defensible player management if the tank is over, but it's horrendous asset management if the tank is still on.

[Tim Lehrbach]

People don't understand how much of Mark's value last off-season was due to how easy it was to match his salary. It's not just about if he was "worth" his contract or not. Teams that wanted him didn't need to break up their rosters to provide the necessary ballast. Most good teams don't have the extra salary to match $42 Million, especially if the tax/apron comes into play.

Like this thread has the Spurs trading Vassell and Johnson. On RGM, those are thought of a "bad contracts" that the Spurs are gaining value by moving. However, this time last year, the Spurs could have just taken Mark in to cap space. So no need to move Devin or Keldon if they like them; no need to add picks to absorb them if they don't. It was clean.

So yeah, he doesn't have anywhere close to the market he used to. The only way the Jazz's handling of Lauri wasn't a colossal miscalculation if they quit the tanking plan and start trying to win with him. It's defensible player management if the tank is over, but it's horrendous asset management if the tank is still on.

RealGM often neglects the context of the players that have to go out to bring in a new guy with a massive contract, especially if, as you put it well, they are considered "bad contracts." Like, Vassell and Johnson aren't amazing, fine. But those are passable rotation minutes that are merely reallocated to Lauri, who has played fewer minutes than either Vassell or Johnson since the former entered the league, and... probably somebody else. You now have to find somebody else AND you just gave up significant assets to upgrade Vassell or Johnson to Lauri.

I acknowledge that big-money, high-minutes players do get traded for upgrades. Sure, it happens. But how often do we see premium assets added to such packages for relatively modest upgrades? I can't think of any examples, really. Star-level players pull star-level assets. Lauri is not Dylan Harper-level-prospect better than Vassell or Johnson. He's also not better than the opportunity costs of spending that pick in some other way. Giannis might be a dream, but somebody else really good could shake loose for a prospect of Harper's caliber.

[WinterSoldier]

I think #14 for Lauri is where we are at right now with value

In the fantasy world of RealGM this is true.

Ainge blew Lauri's value not dealing him last offseason. Jazz fans are used to demanding a king's ransom, it was never happening before and it's definitely not happening now that Lauri had a down year on a huge contract. Who wants to pay him 40+ million now? Not many people. #14 + salary filler is reasonable.

Again, will see what happens in reality. If that's what Lauri gets traded for then good job, I believe it will be more than that.

[DonaldSanders]

Again, will see what happens in reality. If that's what Lauri gets traded for then good job, I believe it will be more than that.

I think it's unlikely he gets moved in the off-season. He can rebuild value if he plays better and the Jazz try to win. If they keep tanking and exaggerating his injuries, it will hurt his value.

[Scoot McGroot]

, Vassell and Johnson aren't amazing, fine. But those are passable rotation minutes that are merely reallocated to Lauri, who has played fewer minutes than either Vassell or Johnson since the former entered the league, and... probably somebody else. You now have to find somebody else AND you just gave up significant assets to upgrade Vassell or Johnson to Lauri.

That’d be Harper with the #2 pick, no?

[DaddyCool19]

Utah should've pushed for a bit of a paycut, when they gave Lauri thr 24M raise before extending him. If he was on a declining contract, he probably would have more value.

[Tim Lehrbach]

, Vassell and Johnson aren't amazing, fine. But those are passable rotation minutes that are merely reallocated to Lauri, who has played fewer minutes than either Vassell or Johnson since the former entered the league, and... probably somebody else. You now have to find somebody else AND you just gave up significant assets to upgrade Vassell or Johnson to Lauri.

That’d be Harper with the #2 pick, no?

Unless I am misunderstanding you, #2 is going to Utah.

[Scoot McGroot]

, Vassell and Johnson aren't amazing, fine. But those are passable rotation minutes that are merely reallocated to Lauri, who has played fewer minutes than either Vassell or Johnson since the former entered the league, and... probably somebody else. You now have to find somebody else AND you just gave up significant assets to upgrade Vassell or Johnson to Lauri.

That’d be Harper with the #2 pick, no?

Unless I am misunderstanding you, #2 is going to Utah.

In the OP yes, but in the rest of the discussions since that pointed out Lauri can't get 2, but probably could get 14, it'd stay with SA.