Rumors, Random Thoughts, and Non-threadworthy Posts 17.0 The Least Random

[jayu70]

Show me please where they have openly told Utah media they have a 3 year tank in place. Because my Mavs once tanked 3/4 of a game and Cuban admitted it and they got a big fine. So I can't imagine the consequences of 3 seasons not quarters.

They have not done so on the record, but both the propaganda outlets controlled by the team (KSL, play by play guys) and non-propaganda outlets (Andy Larsen, Sarah Todd) have said over and over and over again that the plan from the team is a three year tank done by resting Markkanen and Kessler as much as possible.

And wouldn't it be better to trade them? They are good players, but we are not talking about irreplaceable talents... Why pay them for years to not compete, nor for the fans to enjoy them? And it does not speak well of the competitive spirit and passion for the game of Kessler and Markkanen...

NBA fines Jazz for failing to make Lauri Markkanen available

NBA Communications: The following was released by the NBA: UTAH JAZZ FINED $100,000 NEW YORK, March 12, 2025 – The NBA announced today that the Utah Jazz organization has been fined $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy. The violation occurred when the Jazz failed to make Lauri Markkanen, a star player under the Policy, available for the team’s game against the Washington Wizards on March 5 at Capital One Arena, as well as other recent games. The Policy, which was adopted prior to the 2023-24 season, is intended to promote participation in the NBA’s regular season.

– via x.com

[HadAnEffectHere]

Yeah, feels like a warning shot fine after the Jazz's reporter released that article where the Jazz sources basically said "all of our guys suck other than Markkanen and Kessler so we're going to intentionally throw games again next year even if we get Flagg"

[babyjax13]

This has been a miserable experience as a fan. I get the tanking logic, but if you were going to go to that extreme, just trade Lauri at the peak of his value. I still can't stand Danny Ainge.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I don't get it. Utah never tanked. The Western Conference Indiana Pacers.

Losers.

[OxAndFox]

Fill in the missing value here. Knicks need some more and not sure about the direction.

OG/Lively/Washington to Kings
Sabonis/Vincent to Mavs
DDR/Gafford/Carter to Knicks
Robinson to Lakers

The Thinking For Kings: OG allows the formation of a decent defensive line-up with Keon/Lavine/Keegan/OG/Lively with JV there to backup Lively in case of injury and Monk comes in with scoring from the bench along with PJ Washington. Depth might be an issue.

The Thinking For Mavs: Sabonis would be a really good combination with AD and Kyrie and they still have enough depth to make some noise. Christie, Klay, Marshall and Martin along with Hardy and OMax.

The Thinking For Knicks: Consolidate the money from OG into depth pieces. DDR can become the bench scoring piece for the Knicks and help Brunson out. Also add in a smaller version of Josh Hart in Carter who would thrive in a system like that.

The Thinking For Lakers: Simply switch out Gabe for some depth at the 5 in Robinson.

[MoneyTalks41890]

I think Lauri’s value has taken a hit, but what about Masai making a move there with their lotto pick and maybe Ingram? Third team for Ingram.

Not sure how everyone fits together but I like Scottie/Lauri together a lot.

[bkohler]

I think Lauri’s value has taken a hit, but what about Masai making a move there with their lotto pick and maybe Ingram? Third team for Ingram.

Not sure how everyone fits together but I like Scottie/Lauri together a lot.

I personally think a top ten pick will be moved for Lauri, and I think Toronto makes sense. I could also see Phi/SAS/NO/MIA all interested.

[Godaddycurse]

I think Lauri’s value has taken a hit, but what about Masai making a move there with their lotto pick and maybe Ingram? Third team for Ingram.

Not sure how everyone fits together but I like Scottie/Lauri together a lot.

Nah they are going to see how the team gels (or not) first before considering trading ingram. You dont trade a pick for and extend a player only to use him as a salary filler

[MartinsIzAfraud]

This has been a miserable experience as a fan. I get the tanking logic, but if you were going to go to that extreme, just trade Lauri at the peak of his value. I still can't stand Danny Ainge.

sexton and Lauri have to be gone in the summer right....

[HadAnEffectHere]

This has been a miserable experience as a fan. I get the tanking logic, but if you were going to go to that extreme, just trade Lauri at the peak of his value. I still can't stand Danny Ainge.

sexton and Lauri have to be gone in the summer right....

Sexton and Collins will definitely ask for a trade, but Lauri's value has declined so much that a trade this summer will likely not happen.

[Astaluego]

This has been a miserable experience as a fan. I get the tanking logic, but if you were going to go to that extreme, just trade Lauri at the peak of his value. I still can't stand Danny Ainge.

sexton and Lauri have to be gone in the summer right....

I'm more intrigued by what they're doing with Kessler... he's in a contract year, is he willing to "rest"?

[HadAnEffectHere]

This has been a miserable experience as a fan. I get the tanking logic, but if you were going to go to that extreme, just trade Lauri at the peak of his value. I still can't stand Danny Ainge.

sexton and Lauri have to be gone in the summer right....

I'm more intrigued by what they're doing with Kessler... he's in a contract year, is he willing to "rest"?

I'm sure they've already agreed to a contract extension (and it's gonna be a huge number).

[NYG]

Fill in the missing value here. Knicks need some more and not sure about the direction.

OG/Lively/Washington to Kings
Sabonis/Vincent to Mavs
DDR/Gafford/Carter to Knicks
Robinson to Lakers

The Thinking For Kings: OG allows the formation of a decent defensive line-up with Keon/Lavine/Keegan/OG/Lively with JV there to backup Lively in case of injury and Monk comes in with scoring from the bench along with PJ Washington. Depth might be an issue.

The Thinking For Mavs: Sabonis would be a really good combination with AD and Kyrie and they still have enough depth to make some noise. Christie, Klay, Marshall and Martin along with Hardy and OMax.

The Thinking For Knicks: Consolidate the money from OG into depth pieces. DDR can become the bench scoring piece for the Knicks and help Brunson out. Also add in a smaller version of Josh Hart in Carter who would thrive in a system like that.

The Thinking For Lakers: Simply switch out Gabe for some depth at the 5 in Robinson.

The Knicks would need better defensive players back if we send out OG and Mitch

[Astaluego]

What happened to Nerlend Noel? He's only 30 years old. Did he have any catastrophic injuries? He could take A. Lenn's job.

[wegotthabeet]

This has been a miserable experience as a fan. I get the tanking logic, but if you were going to go to that extreme, just trade Lauri at the peak of his value. I still can't stand Danny Ainge.

Crazy that they didn’t move him two years ago.

It’s not often that a player perceived value jumps to such an extent. Could have flipped him for another 4 picks at the time. That window has now closed with his new deal. How the Nets handled Bridges is exactly how the Jazz should have handled him.

[HornetJail]

What happened to Nerlend Noel? He's only 30 years old. Did he have any catastrophic injuries? He could take A. Lenn's job.

it's crazy that you have to go all the way down to #8 in that 2013 draft class to find someone whose career isn't already over or just hanging on by a thread.

[Texas Chuck]

Windhorst just destroying the narrative on this board about the Jazz entering 3 more years of tanking with Markannen and Kessler thrilled to be a part. Turns out they promised Lauri the opposite of this. Which of course always made more logical sense. It's just podcasters get lazy with a prospect from Utah coming in 2 years so naturally the Jazz must tank and must somehow get him even though there is no connection other than forced ones.

[HadAnEffectHere]

Windhorst just destroying the narrative on this board about the Jazz entering 3 more years of tanking with Markannen and Kessler thrilled to be a part. Turns out they promised Lauri the opposite of this. Which of course always made more logical sense. It's just podcasters get lazy with a prospect from Utah coming in 2 years so naturally the Jazz must tank and must somehow get him even though there is no connection other than forced ones.

lol, this report of the three year tank is from the Jazz's play by play guy and from the Jazz's two main reporters.

It's very possible Ainge lied to Markkanen in August about how long this would take. Ainge lies constantly. But this report about tanking hard next year is coming from the main people covering the team.

And this isn't just "a prospect from Utah." AJ is not from Utah, Ainge and Ryan Smith created a fake school to funnel money to his dad to give BYU the edge for him to come to BYU. They have invested several millions into him so it's not too hard to connect the dots there.

Maybe all the local people covering the team are wrong or maybe both them and Windhorst are right and Markkanen demands a trade... But this is coming from the most connected people in the state.

[Texas Chuck]

Sometimes people have more than one connection/motivation. Its possible two guys with ties to BYU might pull strings to help BYU without the Jazz coming into play.

but I also know once someone buys into a narrative they often don't want to budge from it. You seem super convinced the Jazz are going to hard tank 3 more seasons. And have an under the table agreement to pay Kessler double the market rate to go along with said plan lol.

I just think Occam's Razor tells a very different story. But if you are right and Kessler gets $175-200M and the Jazz win < 75 games combined the next 3 seasons I assure you I will give you your flowers and eat my crow.

[babyjax13]

Windhorst just destroying the narrative on this board about the Jazz entering 3 more years of tanking with Markannen and Kessler thrilled to be a part. Turns out they promised Lauri the opposite of this. Which of course always made more logical sense. It's just podcasters get lazy with a prospect from Utah coming in 2 years so naturally the Jazz must tank and must somehow get him even though there is no connection other than forced ones.

I think Utah made a half-hearted attempt to "compete", hence the rumors about Bridges and George. Could you imagine the position we'd be in had we signed George to that contract and traded for Mikal Bridges? Probably a 30-35 win team losing their pick to the Thunder.

But, I don't think those attempts were super credible, and I do think that Ainge is a lying snake b/c that's how he his organizations have always been to their players. I think the thought is that we tank this year, if Flagg is good enough it is impossible to tank next year and you already have a second star to pair with him. If he isn't good enough to immediately be a top 20-25 player you tank again, and you have Lauri's stable contract that looks better in the exploding cap environment as we go. I don't think there is some master plan other than to collect assets and assume you can leverage them into players/prospects/etc. with depressed value, or other assets from desperate teams (e.g., the Suns) and that is fine insofar as it goes, but clearly the better plan if you were going to tank so hard this season you got fined for resting Kessler and Lauri for multiple games, would have been to capitalize on Lauri's value early.

I really hate this era of the team, I think the plan is all wrong. If you want to tank commit to it and collect assets, don't just serially rest players to throw games.