Cavs made a huge mistake and traded the wrong big man

[Bolivar]

Markannen is very skilled for his size. Decent ballhandler and passer, and actually has some playmaking ability.

Seems like it took 5 years for the Americans realize that Lauri is able to do also other things than stand behind the line and shoot 3 pointers like Cavs and Bulls used him.

Will Hardy develop him to better version of Dirk. That is sure.

(Best rim protector in NBA owned so hard by Lauri)

Read on Twitter

Let me guess.. you're from Finland.

He's certainly not, as he can't spell the name.

[anotherhomer]

I don't think Cleveland will have any regrets about trading him, but we don't have enough games to go off of to make this distinction. We need more time before we can come to that conclusion.

But regardless of the matter, I don't think Lauri playing at SF would have been the ticket to Cleveland making that next big leap. Getting Mitchell is. And Mobley and Allen are not the people to give up in that kind of scenario, as they are far too good at what they do to even be considered trade options.

it's good cavs got lauri as an asset to trade for Mitchell...
Utah ended up making out well with 3 unprotected FRPs, 2 swaps and lauri and sexton

[BobbyPortisEyes]

Markannen is very skilled for his size. Decent ballhandler and passer, and actually has some playmaking ability.

Seems like it took 5 years for the Americans realize that Lauri is able to do also other things than stand behind the line and shoot 3 pointers like Cavs and Bulls used him.

Will Hardy develop him to better version of Dirk. That is sure.

(Best rim protector in NBA owned so hard by Lauri)

Read on Twitter

Let me guess.. you're from Finland.

He's certainly not, as he can't spell the name.

I already checked his posts and I was right.

[JujitsuFlip]

I mean to be fair Lauri didn't belong at the SF spot anyways, he always belonged at the big spot.

So good for him and his career, and the Cavs made a trade about winning that was serious, it was time to get a player that actually belonged at the SF position and is a 3 and D guy there to compliment their roster.

So good for Lauri to get to put up stats which... checks profile... ah yes we're making a thread about 20 ppgs on 45% fg and 29% 3 point shooting... great. But also play in a role that suits his frame so he can get rebounds again.

And good for CLE who is actually serious about winning to get someone who can guard wings to makeup for the red carpet defense that Donovan Mitchell plays and hopefully not have to rely solely on Mobely and Jarret finding ways to not foul out before the half.

The Cavs didn't get this though... Lauri and Agbaji were going to get most/all of the minutes at SF and are now on the Jazz...

Ummm

Yes, where he can jack up shots and get a RealGM thread made about him being the next Dirk for somehow putting up 20 ppgs on 45% shooting. And no longer playing the SF spot. So good for Lauri.

And Lauri can't play real defense at the SF spot, which the Cavs need someone with exceptional defense at the SF spot because Mitchell can't play defense at any position in the NBA.

So it's a win win. Lauri's only role post trade for the Cavs would be a backup big which would kill his career, and it would basically force Kevin Love to retire because he'd just be doing Kevin Love's role 10x better than he can right now on the Cavs.

It just wasn't a good fit. But now that they have a team and are actually trying to win for real Lauri can goto a team and jack up as many shots as his heart desires, playing a position that his skill set and physical gifts demand he plays to show off all he brings on the court, and the Cavs can pursue the missing piece at SF that can tie everything together for them and bring them a ring.

Who that is I have no idea. Honestly maybe Jaylen Brown. But since he's not available I guess throw a late first at the Suns for Jae Crowder and hope for the best.

Lauri probably still is playing SF unless you think Vanderbilt or Olynyk are.

[Hoop Heavy]

Markannen is very skilled for his size. Decent ballhandler and passer, and actually has some playmaking ability.

Seems like it took 5 years for the Americans realize that Lauri is able to do also other things than stand behind the line and shoot 3 pointers like Cavs and Bulls used him.

Will Hardy develop him to better version of Dirk. That is sure.

(Best rim protector in NBA owned so hard by Lauri)

Read on Twitter

Which big man would you trade?


The rookie phenom who went 2nd overall and was a hair away from rookie of the year ...

or the defensive anchor who has spurred the team out of irrelevance?

[Sunlight]

Let me guess.. you're from Finland.

He's certainly not, as he can't spell the name.

I already checked his posts and I was right.

Great guess. I still don't want to admit that this thread is a troll.
I strongly believe that when Markannen (yes Markkanen) feels like he is the number one option on offense, he will be able to play winning basketball because of his skills. So far, he's been too nice a guy to take on that role due to injuries and having to play with low-IQ players like Lavine who never win anything.
Now he's in organization where he's respected as an elite European player, and that "racism" won't get in his way. Gobert showed that Utah is one of those teams that doesn't give a s*it the nationality of the players when it comes to who they give a key role. Other examples Mavs (Dirk, Luka) and Spurs (Parker, Ginobili).

[Swuul]

And no longer playing the SF spot.

He is still playing as SF at Utah.

[Lockdown504090]

He's certainly not, as he can't spell the name.

I already checked his posts and I was right.

Great guess. I still don't want to admit that this thread is a troll.
I strongly believe that when Markannen (yes Markkanen) feels like he is the number one option on offense, he will be able to play winning basketball because of his skills. So far, he's been too nice a guy to take on that role due to injuries and having to play with low-IQ players like Lavine who never win anything.
Now he's in organization where he's respected as an elite European player, and that "racism" won't get in his way. Gobert showed that Utah is one of those teams that doesn't give a s*it the nationality of the players when it comes to who they give a key role. Other examples Mavs (Dirk, Luka) and Spurs (Parker, Ginobili).

this is an obvious troll. Utah is the only team bad enough to make him feel like a #1 option, so how can he play winning basketball if the team wont even sniff the playoffs?

[tundraknight]

Hmm the Cavaliers obviously wouldn’t trade Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley instead of Lauri. And I doubt the Jazz would’ve excepted Love instead.

Perhaps the Jazz management viewed Lauri as a positive asset that they wanted in addition to Sexton and all those draft picks.

So I’m not sure if saying “ huge mistake” is accurate.

In order to get value you have to give value.

But anyway I’m happy for Lauri that he found a home that will let him play free and hopefully maximize his potential.

[JujitsuFlip]

And no longer playing the SF spot.

He is still playing as SF at Utah.

I agree, it really all started at the end of the 2020-21 when the Bulls traded for Vucevic and Theis, he started seeing spot minutes at SF.

Then obviously last season with the Cavs he was almost exclusively SF next to Allen and Mobley.

Now, like we said, he still is, next to Vanderbilt and Olynyk.

[GusFring]

Trust us bulls fans, cavs made the right trade. Idc if he improves, made of glass.

[Sunlight]

Markkanen just destroyed contender Memphis. Surely Dirk level right now.

[Capn'O]

As everyone clearly knew all along, the Jazz are a juggernaut post Gobert and Mitchell trades.

[Ballerhogger]

He was stuck in CLE he had quite few bad games for them . Clearly he needed a new team and new start

[Pantsman]

He was stuck in CLE he had quite few bad games for them . Clearly he needed a new team and new start

He really didn’t have a lot of bad games in Cleveland. As a cavs fan im not surprised at all that lauri has this in him. He showed it almost every game in Cleveland. Just not at this scale.

[Blacksheep25]

He was stuck in CLE he had quite few bad games for them . Clearly he needed a new team and new start

He really didn’t have a lot of bad games in Cleveland. As a cavs fan im not surprised at all that lauri has this in him. He showed it almost every game in Cleveland. Just not at this scale.

Yeah, he played as well as he had over his career in general. Wasn’t bad, had some streaks, but just not consistent or a centerpiece on a real contender. Glad he’s playing well. This isn’t some trade I want to see the other side fail. Those picks are going to be high and Ainge may package them for a better pick eventually, and Mitchell has been borderline MVP contender, so I’m glad Lauri is playing well. Those familiar with him just understand it likely won’t last. He’ll stay decent, but he’ll have a ten game stretch where he shoots 20% from 3 also.

[sip]

He was stuck in CLE he had quite few bad games for them . Clearly he needed a new team and new start

He really didn’t have a lot of bad games in Cleveland. As a cavs fan im not surprised at all that lauri has this in him. He showed it almost every game in Cleveland. Just not at this scale.

Yeah, he played as well as he had over his career in general. Wasn’t bad, had some streaks, but just not consistent or a centerpiece on a real contender. Glad he’s playing well. This isn’t some trade I want to see the other side fail. Those picks are going to be high and Ainge may package them for a better pick eventually, and Mitchell has been borderline MVP contender, so I’m glad Lauri is playing well. Those familiar with him just understand it likely won’t last. He’ll stay decent, but he’ll have a ten game stretch where he shoots 20% from 3 also.

I guess you missed the fact that he is doing this without shooting well from 3. The guy is in the best shape of his career and taken his game to completely different level. Once he gets hot from 3 he is going to put up some huge numbers for that stretch.

Sent from my SM-G988U using RealGM mobile app

[Blacksheep25]

He really didn’t have a lot of bad games in Cleveland. As a cavs fan im not surprised at all that lauri has this in him. He showed it almost every game in Cleveland. Just not at this scale.

Yeah, he played as well as he had over his career in general. Wasn’t bad, had some streaks, but just not consistent or a centerpiece on a real contender. Glad he’s playing well. This isn’t some trade I want to see the other side fail. Those picks are going to be high and Ainge may package them for a better pick eventually, and Mitchell has been borderline MVP contender, so I’m glad Lauri is playing well. Those familiar with him just understand it likely won’t last. He’ll stay decent, but he’ll have a ten game stretch where he shoots 20% from 3 also.

I guess you missed the fact that he is doing this without shooting well from 3. The guy is in the best shape of his career and taken his game to completely different level. Once he gets hot from 3 he is going to put up some huge numbers for that stretch.

Sent from my SM-G988U using RealGM mobile app

I’ll bump this thread in three months and he’ll be averaging 16 and 8 on average efficiency, and there is nothing wrong with that, but Lauri is a limited player. Everyone gets excited about him when he first arrives, then reality sets in.

[picc]

No matter which big man they traded, you'd be making this same thread about them.

[jbk1234]

He was stuck in CLE he had quite few bad games for them . Clearly he needed a new team and new start

Really? That's news to Cavs fans who watched every game last year.

Also, he wasn't stuck here, he chose to sign with the Cavs. It was a S&T.