Markkanen signing long-term extension (untradeable this season)

[Jadoogar]

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[Nate505]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

[Jadoogar]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

i think he is traded next summer. Utah can't keep finishing outside the play in and selecting 10th every year.
I understand keeping the asset but i don't really like this move from Utah.

[twozeroMM]

Get your money Lauri, but boy do I want to see this guy actually playing for something meaningful on a playoff contender.

[DonaldSanders]

I think most of us thought the trade was dead weeks ago, so no surprise here. And on Lauri's end, who wants to be in trade rumors all season? It's probably been an exhausting month.

[jazzfan1971]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

i think he is traded next summer. Utah can't keep finishing outside the play in and selecting 10th every year.
I understand keeping the asset but i don't really like this move from Utah.

Getting a godfather offer for him would have been preferable. I guess one didn't materialize. Signing him to a long term deal is also a fantastic outcome for the Jazz. I hope that the contract will be a little team friendly after the first year, but I'm not expecting much.

[Bornstellar]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

I think majority of posters just thought his trade demands were nuts, not that Lauri would walk in FA next season. And given no one caved to Ainge's demands, sounds like they were correct in that assumption tbh

[jazzfan1971]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

I think majority of posters just thought his trade demands were nuts, not that Lauri would walk in FA next season. And given no one caved to Ainge's demands, sounds like they were correct in that assumption tbh

Him becoming a free agent was a possibility. And one of the most negative that faced the Jazz. I'm glad we are dodging that one.

[Mamba Mentality]

Cool Utah, have fun gunning for the 11 seed.

[jazzfan1971]

Cool Utah, have fun gunning for the 11 seed.

See you there!

[Bornstellar]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

I think majority of posters just thought his trade demands were nuts, not that Lauri would walk in FA next season. And given no one caved to Ainge's demands, sounds like they were correct in that assumption tbh

Him becoming a free agent was a possibility. And one of the most negative that faced the Jazz. I'm glad we are dodging that one.

I'm not going to pretend to be plugged into the Jazz but I always felt that was a very minor possibility because it seems more logical to R&E and secure the bag rather than wait a year and risk injury.

[Nate505]

But I was told by the geniuses here that Ainge's trade demands were nuts and that Lauri would become an unrestricted FA next year because of...uh, reasons.

I think majority of posters just thought his trade demands were nuts, not that Lauri would walk in FA next season. And given no one caved to Ainge's demands, sounds like they were correct in that assumption tbh

Yeah, but there were some when told "who gives a damn if Ainge's trade demands are nuts, he'll just sign Lauri to an extension if they aren't met", they responded with "he'll just be an unrestricted FA next year because who wants to stay in Utah/who wants to stay on a losing team/Ainge is playing with fire and will lose him for nothing and blah blah blah", when in reality that situation was never going to happen and it was completely stupid and illogical to think it.

[Nate505]

Cool Utah, have fun gunning for the 11 seed.

As long as the Lakers are the 12 seed, that's a win.

[cpower]

Lauri to retire in 3 days after the signing extension

[jazzfan1971]

I think majority of posters just thought his trade demands were nuts, not that Lauri would walk in FA next season. And given no one caved to Ainge's demands, sounds like they were correct in that assumption tbh

Him becoming a free agent was a possibility. And one of the most negative that faced the Jazz. I'm glad we are dodging that one.

I'm not going to pretend to be plugged into the Jazz but I always felt that was a very minor possibility because it seems more logical to R&E and secure the bag rather than wait a year and risk injury.

From what I understand, Lauri has to give up a little bit of money to take the extension. I could be wrong on this, but it seems like in a best case scenario both ways he was going to lose out on somewhere around 15mil to take an extension. Is that worth not getting the money guaranteed today? I don't think so. But, I'm not Lauri. We've seen players do stuff that seems crazy before. Nerlens Noel comes to mind here...

I'm with you, it seemed like an unlikely scenario. But, there was still that possibility, and it would have been a very uncomfortable year for Jazz fans had he declined the R&E offer.

[Iwasawitness]

I'm not really getting Utah's plan here.

The whole point of getting all of these first round picks were to rebuild quickly through the draft. Keeping Lauri stops them from at the very least being a bottom feeder team, so they can't get higher draft picks through themselves. They'll get the lottery, but I doubt they manage anything in the top five. Minnesota has found their groove and looks like they'll be a top team for years to come. And Cleveland locked up their core four on long term deals. Baring any unforeseen circumstances, I don't see a path for Utah to truly build themselves through the draft in the same matter that OKC did.

[jazzfan1971]

I'm not really getting Utah's plan here.

The whole point of getting all of these first round picks were to rebuild quickly through the draft. Keeping Lauri stops them from at the very least being a bottom feeder team, so they can't get higher draft picks through themselves. They'll get the lottery, but I doubt they manage anything in the top five. Minnesota has found their groove and looks like they'll be a top team for years to come. And Cleveland locked up their core four on long term deals. Baring any unforeseen circumstances, I don't see a path for Utah to truly build themselves through the draft in the same matter that OKC did.

I think that the Jazz believe that they can tank with Lauri.

The West is crazy strong this year. I doubt we will be favored in any matchup besides home games vs. Portland. So, that's only 2 of 41 games in the West we would expect to win. (with Lauri)

The East is a different story. I would imagine that we'll be favored to win vs. all of the East's bottom feeders. But, we only play them 2x which means maybe two wins each. They have to play each other 4 times so they also can expect 2 wins each. I think with questionable PG play and shutting things down after the all-star break that the Jazz will be on pretty even footing with the other tanking teams, largely by virtue of the strength of the West.

[In-N-Out 247]

Despite all the headlines this was the inevitable outcome.

[Jadoogar]

I'm not really getting Utah's plan here.

The whole point of getting all of these first round picks were to rebuild quickly through the draft. Keeping Lauri stops them from at the very least being a bottom feeder team, so they can't get higher draft picks through themselves. They'll get the lottery, but I doubt they manage anything in the top five. Minnesota has found their groove and looks like they'll be a top team for years to come. And Cleveland locked up their core four on long term deals. Baring any unforeseen circumstances, I don't see a path for Utah to truly build themselves through the draft in the same matter that OKC did.

I think that the Jazz believe that they can tank with Lauri.

The West is crazy strong this year. I doubt we will be favored in any matchup besides home games vs. Portland. So, that's only 2 of 41 games in the West we would expect to win. (with Lauri)

The East is a different story. I would imagine that we'll be favored to win vs. all of the East's bottom feeders. But, we only play them 2x which means maybe two wins each. They have to play each other 4 times so they also can expect 2 wins each. I think with questionable PG play and shutting things down after the all-star break that the Jazz will be on pretty even footing with the other tanking teams, largely by virtue of the strength of the West.

Jazz are essentially bringing back the same team as last year and i would hope to see some growth from Kessler and George. Yea the west is tough but there is always injuries (see Memphis last year). They are definitely better than the true bottom feeders (Wizards, Pistons, Nets and Blazers). I don't think they'll be in the mix for a bottom 4 seed.

[Drakeem]

I think the other teams lose out on a lot more than Utah does. Utah will still be pretty bad and get some high draft picks while keeping an asset (who will be more valuable now that teams can't point to the free agency aspect).