Cavs made a huge mistake and traded the wrong big man

[jbk1234]

Jarret Allen has become a bit overrated

Cavs def made a mistake.. If you want get far in the offs, you need to stretch the floor. Cavs are kinda built like a modern day 00's team.

Celtics, Bucks and Nets can all go 4out or 5 out with their starting roster

I wouldnt really want cavs going 4out because mobely isnt that great of a 3 point shooter

Same with the contenders in the west, They all can go 4out or 5out

The Cavs problem is not in the front court, it's at SF. They've got one guy on the roster who can consistently shoot league average from 3 and play the position. He's been in street clothes for 2/3 of the season.

[Mickey8]

Cavs are doing good this season.

[Blacksheep25]

I’ve got some strange, I assume Euro, private messaging me calling me a racist for not responding to thread where I said Lauri would return to his mean. Now I’m supposed to be impressed he’s racking up decent numbers on some team rapidly heading to the lotto losing every night? I said I liked Lauri and hoped he did well. He was a good soldier. Seems a nice kid. Decent player also .

I laughed at the racist thing, given I’m white as hell. These random posters dying for attention over their random stars is annoying. I’m not excited by some dude putting up empty stats and losing. Someone has to score. He’s played really well in the situation. The Jazz seem to be doing an excellent job inflating his value for an eventual Ainge trade. I’m happy for the kid. The idea we should have traded an all Star or a kid with a much higher ceiling instead is so silly it’s not worth discussion.

Whole thread was silly from the start with better than Dirk nonsense about some journeyman player. He’s playing well. If he’s ever your best player you’re going to lose a lot of games. Ever your second, you’re going to lose a lot of games. Maybe he can be third best? That’s about his ceiling. And not third best on a champ, third best on a team with a prayer to get out of first round. I hope he continues to do well as he seems a good kid however idiotic his fans are.

[WillyJakkz]

The Cavs problem is not Lauri vs Mobley as if Lauri would make the Cavs look better had they kept him.

The issue which I keep saying with Cleveland is Garland. CLE looks so much more fluid on offense when Garland is out and with Mitchell at the helm. Once they realize that CLE will really be a problem even moreso than now.

No Garland and Lauri still on CLE then yes that improves CLE dramatically.

The statement should be the Cavs traded the wrong PG as Sexton is much more suitable off the bench behind Donovan and they could've kept Lauri possibly in that scenario by trading Garland to Utah.

Still wouldn't resolve the Cavs SF issue as not sure Mobley could play extensive SF mins but they'd be better off.

Lauri is playing fantastic though not sure why CHI even gave up on the young fella.

[Knightfall]

People saying the Cavs traded the wrong big man, but Lauri played SF in cleveland and is playing SF in Utah. So who is this that they traded? It wasnt a PF or Center. Also with Love there it's the perfect mix up front.

[PhilBlackson]

Wait which big man are you saying the Cavs should’ve traded instead?!?

[jbk1234]

The Cavs problem is not Lauri vs Mobley as if Lauri would make the Cavs look better had they kept him.

The issue which I keep saying with Cleveland is Garland. CLE looks so much more fluid on offense when Garland is out and with Mitchell at the helm. Once they realize that CLE will really be a problem even moreso than now.

No Garland and Lauri still on CLE then yes that improves CLE dramatically.

The statement should be the Cavs traded the wrong PG as Sexton is much more suitable off the bench behind Donovan and they could've kept Lauri possibly in that scenario by trading Garland to Utah.

Still wouldn't resolve the Cavs SF issue as not sure Mobley could play extensive SF mins but they'd be better off.

Lauri is playing fantastic though not sure why CHI even gave up on the young fella.

There are wrong takes and there's whatever akshually-Garland-is-the-problem is.

Everything you typed here is wrong.

[TheLand13]

I don’t even know why this thread continues to receive any attention.

-Lauri was not going to play this way in Cleveland, period. What Mobley or Allen bring to the table is far more important than what Lauri would’ve brought and is a lot more difficult to replace.

-Cleveland doesn’t need an elite wing at SF. Hell, a decent one would do wonders for their offense. That’s Wade when he returns from his injury and hopefully, he can stay healthy.

-Cleveland is more than likely betting on the idea that Mobley’s three point shooting will improve over time and he will be their floor spreader at the four. Obviously that doesn’t happen this year, and probably not even next year. But if the signs are there, then that’s what matters.

I said it the day the trade happened and I’ll say it again, it does suck that Lauri had to be involved. If it were up to me, Love would be the one going in his place, but I’m willing to bet we tried that and Utah wanted Lauri instead. It is what it is. But Mitchell has been doing wonders for Cleveland so far, and Cleveland’s the best defensive team in the league so the concerns we did have are gone.

[Sunlight]

Dirk career high 53pts, Lauri now 49pts.

[One Last Shot]

I’ve got some strange, I assume Euro, private messaging me calling me a racist for not responding to thread where I said Lauri would return to his mean. Now I’m supposed to be impressed he’s racking up decent numbers on some team rapidly heading to the lotto losing every night? I said I liked Lauri and hoped he did well. He was a good soldier. Seems a nice kid. Decent player also .

I laughed at the racist thing, given I’m white as hell. These random posters dying for attention over their random stars is annoying. I’m not excited by some dude putting up empty stats and losing. Someone has to score. He’s played really well in the situation. The Jazz seem to be doing an excellent job inflating his value for an eventual Ainge trade. I’m happy for the kid. The idea we should have traded an all Star or a kid with a much higher ceiling instead is so silly it’s not worth discussion.

Whole thread was silly from the start with better than Dirk nonsense about some journeyman player. He’s playing well. If he’s ever your best player you’re going to lose a lot of games. Ever your second, you’re going to lose a lot of games. Maybe he can be third best? That’s about his ceiling. And not third best on a champ, third best on a team with a prayer to get out of first round. I hope he continues to do well as he seems a good kid however idiotic his fans are.

Sure, bud. Lauri even as your 3rd best guy still not winning a championship and still possibly lose a lot of games like when he's your 1st or 2nd best player right? Here's a question, who do you think was the 3rd best player of 2020 Lakers? Rondo, KCP, Kuzma, Caruso? Even now, I'm not sure and they still won it all. You think all of them are better than Lauri now? Or 2016 Cavs? Is it Kevin Love who averaged 8 points in that series and turn it around because he defended Steph well in last minutes of Game 7? Or 2014 Spurs? 2013 Cavs? Is it Bosh who never scored a single point in Game 7? How about in 2011 Mavericks? Or in 2006 Heat? The Lakers who 3peat after MJ era can't have Lauri as their 3rd best player with your logic. I'm not even a fan of Lauri but I know he will be good given the opportunity since he got traded for Butler. He's a 7-footer averaging 24/9 while shooting 42% from 3's in 7 attempts per game and Jazz who's supposed to tank at one point the best team in the league earlier this season. You keep saying he's a good kid and that's based on what? Did you also think Josh Primo was a good kid? How about Bridges? You talk like some kind of basketball genius and belittling the opinions of others calling them idiotic because you think they're wrong. That's not right in my opinion.

[FranchisePlayer]

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

"Better version of Dirk. That is sure."

Read on Twitter

Still sure about that, axeman?

[ch434355]

The Bulls and Cavs both really messed up with this guy.

[JonFromVA]

Talking about the Cavs' big men: Mobley's hype has taken a little hit this season. He hasn't added anything to his game since his rookie year. Still a great prospect, but with the Mitchell trade the Cavs are in a win-now moment.

It's also an issue for the Cavs that neither of their starting bigs make threes: Allen doesn't shoot them at all and while Mobley attempts the very occasional three, he's hitting them at abysmal 22%. It's tough to be a good team in today's NBA if both your PF and C are not a threat from beyond the arc.

Right now it's looking pretty obvious that the Cavs would have been better off in the present by trading Mobley and keeping Markkanen - if that was an option. Mobley needs to develop his game by next season at the latest or it's starting to make more sense for the Cavs to trade him or Allen.

lol, not going there, and it's sure not obvious.

Not only are the Cavs a good team (2nd in net rating and 1st in defense), they've been doing it while often starting 3 bad 3pt shooters thanks to injuries to Wade and Windler who were both expected to be competing to fill the role vacated by Lauri.

And I'm sure not putting Mobley on a clock, that'd be a huge mistake.

[Cubbies2120]

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

"Better version of Dirk. That is sure."

Read on Twitter

Still sure about that, axeman?

Lauri is playing great but Dirk was another level. He had these types of performances in the playoffs, multiple performances like that.

Lauri's career game doesn't rank in Dirk's top 10 career games, so yes, it's absurd to say he's a "better version of Dirk". Cmon now...

[JonFromVA]

Lauri better make the allstar game this year.

I vote for him daily but he probably gets picked by the coaches as a reserve or the commissioner as an injury replacement.

The game is in Utah ... he has to make it, just like Allen and Garland made it last year in Cleveland.

Lots of players are deserving, but the game in Utah has got to tip any doubt to Lauri.

[MartyConlonJr]

Not at all trying to say Lauri is on Dirks level or anything, but out of curiosity I put Lauris current season up against Dirks MVP season and the numbers are pretty similar

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=nowitdi01&p1yrfrom=2007&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2023

[sami71]

Not at all trying to say Lauri is on Dirks level or anything, but out of curiosity I put Lauris current season up against Dirks MVP season and the numbers are pretty similar

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=nowitdi01&p1yrfrom=2007&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2023

Numbers are crazy across the board. Not to take anything away from Lauri, he is having a great season. But let's take a deep breath here.

[MrBigShot]

Markennan has been absolutely amazing this year, but he wasn't doing this on the Cavs.

And the cavs are in a fantastic position right now. They are one high quality wing away from being a legitimate contender.

[madmaxmedia]

I don’t even know why this thread continues to receive any attention.

We are all still here because we got hooked by the "better than Dirk" troll comment.

[JonFromVA]

Not at all trying to say Lauri is on Dirks level or anything, but out of curiosity I put Lauris current season up against Dirks MVP season and the numbers are pretty similar

https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=nowitdi01&p1yrfrom=2007&player_id2=markkla01&p2yrfrom=2023

Numbers are crazy across the board. Not to take anything away from Lauri, he is having a great season. But let's take a deep breath here.

Meh, I see no reason to discount what's going on this season. If there was even a whiff of something going on, like another round of steroid/HGH abuse, or some secret agreement by players to not play defense.

That being said, MVP is measured in other ways that Lauri is not close to Dirk in.