Mavrelous wrote:BigJimFinn wrote:Mavrelous wrote:Mitchell, he's a proven #1 option on good PO team, and can fit as #2 next to any wing, big or PG.
Markannen hasn't shown that, as a 2nd option (Cavs season) he was pretty average...
Agreed that Spida is more valuable as proven #1 guy for a good team, even if he likely can't be that for a contender, and Lauri as #1 guy has a ceiling at 40ish wins (less in the current West). But Lauri has never been #2 option in a good team; Cavs were a play-in team, and more importantly he was used just as a spacer standing in the corner. He was 5th on the team in FGA at 11.5, or less than his first three years in Chicago.
The reason for his high trade value is that many teams believe he would be very effective as a #2 or #3 option offering great spacing and extra gravity with his off-ball movement, which allows him to not only fit with, but actually help ball-dominant superstars. Lauri today is also a better defender than his early reputation, being fairly switchable 2 - 5 (not good against any type, but just about decent against all) and highly coachable (effort and discipline within a scheme, low fouling). He also gives you a rare combo of high-volume 3pt shooting, rebounding and big man transition speed. I would just love to see him in a 5-out, ball-moving, fast paced team.
In the real world and outside the hypothetical the other reason is this season's bargain contract, which makes him easy to fit into a trade without giving many current players away. If he gets onto a winner that is willing to pay the future cost of winning, I don't see him walking away. He doesn't care about being "the man", and any of that hero itch he can scratch next summer with Finland in the Euros tournament played at home.
I like Lauri a lot, and I, like you, believe he will be much better than he was in CLE and CHI, but in valuation vs a proven 1st option, it's what have you done, not what you can be if you are used correctly, especially for 27 y/o player.
You really can't put Markannen is same tier with someone like Mitchell, there is a possibility that Lauri is traded, and we find out Markannen is an amazing 2nd option that can elevate a team into contender, but until this happens, it's not enough to tip the scale.
Yep. Which is the reason I started with "Agreed that Spida is more valuable as proven #1 guy for a good team".