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You trade Lauri for a good loot and tank for a year for a loaded draft at the top or build around him... tell us what you would do, what guys you like in his draft range (10/29/32), what you would do in the free agency...etc

All I can say is, if you want to send Collins and Clarkson to the Bulls for Zach Lavine I'd be happy. The Jazz get a scorer, having watched Lavine in CHI, he's not going to turn UT into a winner but if he's healthy he can score. Maybe by the deadline some team has an injury, needs to fill a scoring void. Maybe next off season a bunch of other scorers stay put and there are teams that are wanting. The following deadline he'll only have a year left. Consider that with the next TV and CBA max contracts could go up and Lavine's SSS could look more agreeable.

ChettheJet wrote:All I can say is, if you want to send Collins and Clarkson to the Bulls for Zach Lavine I'd be happy. The Jazz get a scorer, having watched Lavine in CHI, he's not going to turn UT into a winner but if he's healthy he can score. Maybe by the deadline some team has an injury, needs to fill a scoring void. Maybe next off season a bunch of other scorers stay put and there are teams that are wanting. The following deadline he'll only have a year left. Consider that with the next TV and CBA max contracts could go up and Lavine's SSS could look more agreeable.

This will rate poorly but I like the idea for Utah. The right deal for Lavine would make a ton of sense.

jredsaz wrote:

ChettheJet wrote:All I can say is, if you want to send Collins and Clarkson to the Bulls for Zach Lavine I'd be happy. The Jazz get a scorer, having watched Lavine in CHI, he's not going to turn UT into a winner but if he's healthy he can score. Maybe by the deadline some team has an injury, needs to fill a scoring void. Maybe next off season a bunch of other scorers stay put and there are teams that are wanting. The following deadline he'll only have a year left. Consider that with the next TV and CBA max contracts could go up and Lavine's SSS could look more agreeable.

This will rate poorly but I like the idea for Utah. The right deal for Lavine would make a ton of sense.

I don't hate it IF something crazy happens, e.g. Philadelphia strikes out in free agency and Embiid asks out - Morey trades him for Utah's entire trove of picks from Minnesota and Cleveland + Hendricks + Kessler.

Embiid
Markkanen
???
LaVine
Sexton?

It's the start of something.

My offseason would be really boring. I would (not necessarily in this order)

1. Use #29 to dump Collins on someone. Charlotte fans seem to want him, so 29 + Collins for a fake 2nd and cap space. Or 32 and Collins for some of their bad money, etc.

2. Move Clarkson to a contender, I don't really care what comes back but I imagine that a bad expiring and a second is available from somewhere. I could see Dallas wanting to reduce their capsheet a bit just to keep DJJ, and I'd do a straight swap for THJ and consider buying out THJ so he can go to a contender.

3. Let the bad players go. THT, Kira Lewis, and maybe Luka Semanic should be let go. I wouldn't mind keeping Semanic because he hasn't been actively harmful to my eyes like THT has been.

4. Target wings in the draft unless Topic slides and we really like him. I'd be happy walking away with any of Kyshawn George, Cody Williams, Ron Holland, Tristan da Silva, or Nikola Topic at 10. At 32 there should be some interesting options, but I don't have a particularly strong opinion or strong sense of who exactly will be there - I have a feeling this draft will be a bit unpredictable.

5. Resign Dunn so we have a point guard on the roster and because he's likely going to be someone we can flip for value.

6. R+E Lauri

Functionally that makes our team something like:

Kessler/Hendricks/Yurtseven
Markkanen/Hendricks
pick 10/Markkanen/???
Sexton/Sensabaugh
George/Dunn
bought out: Tim Hardaway Jr.

This team should be absolute ass even when Lauri plays, we'd have a great shot at a high pick in 2025 and certainly should not be losing it to OKC. More importantly, every young player will get a bunch of minutes and we can see if we have something with anny of George/Sexton/Kessler/Hendricks.

Utah seems need to make a move whether that is to blow it up and trade Markkanen which then they try to tank and keep their pick this year in a good draft (only top 10 protected)... or they move off some of their pick stash.

Move 1: Extend Markkanen. Give him the 4/200 extension or whatever he costs.

Move 2: Trade Kessler and Lakers 27 first for Brandon Ingram.
or Collins+ Lakers 27 and additional first for Ingram.

New Lineup
Keyonte- Collier
Sexton- Clarkson
Ingram- Cody
Lauri- Hendricks
Collins- Flip

with still a hoard of picks

JMAC3 wrote:Utah seems need to make a move whether that is to blow it up and trade Markkanen which then they try to tank and keep their pick this year in a good draft (only top 10 protected)... or they move off some of their pick stash.

Move 1: Extend Markkanen. Give him the 4/200 extension or whatever he costs.

Move 2: Trade Kessler and Lakers 27 first for Brandon Ingram.
or Collins+ Lakers 27 and additional first for Ingram.

New Lineup
Keyonte- Collier
Sexton- Clarkson
Ingram- Cody
Lauri- Hendricks
Collins- Flip

with still a hoard of picks

I suspect that Lauri isn't goung to restructure and extend. The win-now press releases coming out of the front office were likely designed to induce Luari to do so. The draft has come and gone. We're on the cusp of free agency. Now it's being reported that the Jazz are taking calls on Lauri.

They either couldn't get anything done on the win-now front, or Ainge balked at price of doing so given how far away they are.

Utah has 6 prospects selected with fairly high picks in the past 2 drafts that need to be developed (7 if you go back another year and count Kessler). That's a pretty big tell they are not trying to compete for the playoffs this coming season. They likely don't have a path to add a big game superstar player unless they draft one in the next few years. Ingram or Tobias types really don't move the needle for them to become contenders. They probably need to keep their phone lines open to potentially trade Lauri if they do get a Mikal Bridges type offer. They can rent out their capspace for picks/assets if they don't use it to renegotiate and extend Lauri.

Even if they do extend him I think they are a bottom 2 team in the WC next season. Lauri would have to be ok playing with a bunch of developing kids while losing games but he would at least be highly compensated for it. They can trade out any other veterans that have value including even Kessler if he's not a long term piece for them. I suspect they are probably stuck with John Collins for at least another season on that contract.

Lauri doesn't fit Utah's timeline. If I were Ainge though I'd be looking for a young player with high potential in return for him moreso than picks.

LofJ wrote:Lauri doesn't fit Utah's timeline. If I were Ainge though I'd be looking for a young player with high potential in return for him moreso than picks.

This is the prime scenario in which it makes sense to move Lauri, but it's still unlikely I think. I still see the R+E as the most likely outcome. Additional priorities:
1. Look for opportunistic signings or trades.
2. Don't spend draft capital to move on from any current players.
3. Focus on long term development, less on immediate wins.
4. Spend to retain Dunn as a backcourt mentor, particularly on defense.

Honestly, there isn't any point in Utah holding onto any aspirations for competing in the West this year. It's time to suck harder than the last time I played CoD. Break it down to the studs, maximize return where possible, and let our players play to find out who's worth keeping and not.

SkyHook wrote:

LofJ wrote:Lauri doesn't fit Utah's timeline. If I were Ainge though I'd be looking for a young player with high potential in return for him moreso than picks.

This is the prime scenario in which it makes sense to move Lauri, but it's still unlikely I think. I still see the R+E as the most likely outcome. Additional priorities:
1. Look for opportunistic signings or trades.
2. Don't spend draft capital to move on from any current players.
3. Focus on long term development, less on immediate wins.
4. Spend to retain Dunn as a backcourt mentor, particularly on defense.

I think a lot of Jazz fans are losing their minds with the rebuild. Maybe most fan bases go nuts headed into a rebuild?

It's nice to read a nice sensible post from a Jazz fan for a change.

jazzfan1971 wrote:

SkyHook wrote:

LofJ wrote:Lauri doesn't fit Utah's timeline. If I were Ainge though I'd be looking for a young player with high potential in return for him moreso than picks.

This is the prime scenario in which it makes sense to move Lauri, but it's still unlikely I think. I still see the R+E as the most likely outcome. Additional priorities:
1. Look for opportunistic signings or trades.
2. Don't spend draft capital to move on from any current players.
3. Focus on long term development, less on immediate wins.
4. Spend to retain Dunn as a backcourt mentor, particularly on defense.

I think a lot of Jazz fans are losing their minds with the rebuild. Maybe most fan bases go nuts headed into a rebuild?

It's nice to read a nice sensible post from a Jazz fan for a change.

I don't have an issue with any of the above points. My primary issue is with Utah not choosing a direction. They do this half-in/half-out stuff and it isn't going to work long term. It's okay to blow it the eff up if the payoff is a Presti-style rebuild.

The problem is that Lauri is in his prime and by the time we're ready to compete, he'll be pushing 30. Further, Utah is enamored with this idea of "big game" hunting, but they aren't willing to pony up. Ainge has a certain value for every player and, while that's good to keep from overspending, it's also bad because he's obstinate as hell.

So accepting the fact that we aren't trading for anyone of note and that we aren't going "All in", what realistic choice is left?

Utah is fully two years from competing for a play-in, so why not maximize the return and the suck? It's better in the long run.

CallMeKahn wrote:

jazzfan1971 wrote:

SkyHook wrote:
This is the prime scenario in which it makes sense to move Lauri, but it's still unlikely I think. I still see the R+E as the most likely outcome. Additional priorities:
1. Look for opportunistic signings or trades.
2. Don't spend draft capital to move on from any current players.
3. Focus on long term development, less on immediate wins.
4. Spend to retain Dunn as a backcourt mentor, particularly on defense.

I think a lot of Jazz fans are losing their minds with the rebuild. Maybe most fan bases go nuts headed into a rebuild?

It's nice to read a nice sensible post from a Jazz fan for a change.

I don't have an issue with any of the above points. My primary issue is with Utah not choosing a direction. They do this half-in/half-out stuff and it isn't going to work long term. It's okay to blow it the eff up if the payoff is a Presti-style rebuild.

The problem is that Lauri is in his prime and by the time we're ready to compete, he'll be pushing 30. Further, Utah is enamored with this idea of "big game" hunting, but they aren't willing to pony up. Ainge has a certain value for every player and, while that's good to keep from overspending, it's also bad because he's obstinate as hell.

So accepting the fact that we aren't trading for anyone of note and that we aren't going "All in", what realistic choice is left?

Utah is fully two years from competing for a play-in, so why not maximize the return and the suck? It's better in the long run.

If the Jazz can suck enough to have the best chance at the #1 pick while keeping Lauri (they can), then — barring a perfect trade for a young stud — keeping him is a solid choice as well.

SkyHook wrote:

CallMeKahn wrote:

jazzfan1971 wrote:
I think a lot of Jazz fans are losing their minds with the rebuild. Maybe most fan bases go nuts headed into a rebuild?

It's nice to read a nice sensible post from a Jazz fan for a change.

I don't have an issue with any of the above points. My primary issue is with Utah not choosing a direction. They do this half-in/half-out stuff and it isn't going to work long term. It's okay to blow it the eff up if the payoff is a Presti-style rebuild.

The problem is that Lauri is in his prime and by the time we're ready to compete, he'll be pushing 30. Further, Utah is enamored with this idea of "big game" hunting, but they aren't willing to pony up. Ainge has a certain value for every player and, while that's good to keep from overspending, it's also bad because he's obstinate as hell.

So accepting the fact that we aren't trading for anyone of note and that we aren't going "All in", what realistic choice is left?

Utah is fully two years from competing for a play-in, so why not maximize the return and the suck? It's better in the long run.

If the Jazz can suck enough to have the best chance at the #1 pick while keeping Lauri (they can), then — barring a perfect trade for a young stud — keeping him is a solid choice as well.

You have to deal with the likes of the Wizards, Chicago, Charlotte, Detroit, and maybe Atlanta (Pending a Trae deal) and others. Lauri helps us win. Ergo, he must go.

Think about just how long it took for Boston (Ainge’s last full rebuild project) to come around to contention level and a fully stacked squad. Four years to be in the mix, three more and a LOT of other finalizing moves to be ready to get it done.

Utah is that far away and by that time the only value left to Lauri for them is expiring. In between he will only serve to arm them just a little too good for the types of lotto picks that brought Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum to Boston in back to back drafts and gave them two All NBA players as a foundation to build off of.

jbk1234 wrote:

JMAC3 wrote:Utah seems need to make a move whether that is to blow it up and trade Markkanen which then they try to tank and keep their pick this year in a good draft (only top 10 protected)... or they move off some of their pick stash.

Move 1: Extend Markkanen. Give him the 4/200 extension or whatever he costs.

Move 2: Trade Kessler and Lakers 27 first for Brandon Ingram.
or Collins+ Lakers 27 and additional first for Ingram.

New Lineup
Keyonte- Collier
Sexton- Clarkson
Ingram- Cody
Lauri- Hendricks
Collins- Flip

with still a hoard of picks

I suspect that Lauri isn't goung to restructure and extend. The win-now press releases coming out of the front office were likely designed to induce Luari to do so. The draft has come and gone. We're on the cusp of free agency. Now it's being reported that the Jazz are taking calls on Lauri.

They either couldn't get anything done on the win-now front, or Ainge balked at price of doing so given how far away they are.

Doing an R+E could mean a 24 million dollar raise next year in addition to an extension.

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

JMAC3 wrote:Utah seems need to make a move whether that is to blow it up and trade Markkanen which then they try to tank and keep their pick this year in a good draft (only top 10 protected)... or they move off some of their pick stash.

Move 1: Extend Markkanen. Give him the 4/200 extension or whatever he costs.

Move 2: Trade Kessler and Lakers 27 first for Brandon Ingram.
or Collins+ Lakers 27 and additional first for Ingram.

New Lineup
Keyonte- Collier
Sexton- Clarkson
Ingram- Cody
Lauri- Hendricks
Collins- Flip

with still a hoard of picks

I suspect that Lauri isn't goung to restructure and extend. The win-now press releases coming out of the front office were likely designed to induce Luari to do so. The draft has come and gone. We're on the cusp of free agency. Now it's being reported that the Jazz are taking calls on Lauri.

They either couldn't get anything done on the win-now front, or Ainge balked at price of doing so given how far away they are.

Doing an R+E could mean a 24 million dollar raise next year in addition to an extension.

Correct. It would also mean getting stuck on a rebuilding team and if he stays healthy he'll easily make that up next summer.

jbk1234 wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:
I suspect that Lauri isn't goung to restructure and extend. The win-now press releases coming out of the front office were likely designed to induce Luari to do so. The draft has come and gone. We're on the cusp of free agency. Now it's being reported that the Jazz are taking calls on Lauri.

They either couldn't get anything done on the win-now front, or Ainge balked at price of doing so given how far away they are.

Doing an R+E could mean a 24 million dollar raise next year in addition to an extension.

Correct. It would also mean getting stuck on a rebuilding team and if he stays healthy he'll easily make that up next summer.

In Ainge We Trust

Trading Clarkson should be the #1 priority. Bring back Dunn, and see what teams are offering for Sexton.