Lauri Markkanen Discussion Thread: PT 2

[kingkirk]

It makes zero sense for LaVine to look to extend this offseason.

Zach LaVine might be the most sought after FA in the league in 2 years if you let him get there. Makes plenty of sense to lock him up early from a risk perspective.

I get what you mean in terms of locking up Zach uses resources that could be spent improving the team, but if you look around and say, I would make a very small improvement with those resources and I could remove the biggest risk to my franchise, you'd definitely consider removing that risk first.

Read what I wrote, though.

“For LaVine”

The reasons you outlined is why it makes no sense for him to agree to an extension this offseason, meaning any cap space the Bulls do generate won’t be going to Zach.

[MrSparkle]

If the Bulls suck so much that Zach leaves, then we’re better off not becoming a worse version of the Melo Knicks.

[TheStig]

Doubt you waive Sato and Thad just to lock up LaVine.

Aren't we projected to have 25 mill of cap space with no Lauri? Why would you need to waive both. If anything just Sato.

We can barely get there only after saying bye to Lauri.

If you keep his cap hold around, the bulls won’t have cap space.

I believe Doug said a few posts above but we can get to the needed amount by releasing Lauri and stretching Aminu.

[kingkirk]

Aren't we projected to have 25 mill of cap space with no Lauri? Why would you need to waive both. If anything just Sato.

We can barely get there only after saying bye to Lauri.

If you keep his cap hold around, the bulls won’t have cap space.

I believe Doug said a few posts above but we can get to the needed amount by releasing Lauri and stretching Aminu.

You can get to $28m by waiving both Sato, Thad, stretching Aminu, and telling all other FAs to get stuffed.

You'd only have 5 guys contracted, with a lot of spots to fill, meaning that $28m ain't doing much for you.

They won't be waiving both Sato and Thad, maybe not even one of them, as the upside isn't there to create enough space to do so.

I don't think the Bulls will want to be a cap space team this offseason. For them to be one, they have to giving up a lot to get there.

[DunkenDunk]

Nice passes and ball movements finally... Time to trade whole second unit.

[dougthonus]

Read what I wrote, though.

“For LaVine”

The reasons you outlined is why it makes no sense for him to agree to an extension this offseason, meaning any cap space the Bulls do generate won’t be going to Zach.

YOu'd obviously have to have an agreement with Zach that he would sign an extension before waiving anyone.

[RastaBull]

Also ... very balanced game from bench and starters in terms of rotations and +/-. Seems pretty rare for a 6 point win to have almost every player with a a positive +/- (Denzel the only one with a negative).

Lots of people here were calling for some switches (specifically Theis for Young). But the White move also has had a domino effect imo. Balance looks good, optimizing a lot of different players impact right now.

[TheStig]

We can barely get there only after saying bye to Lauri.

If you keep his cap hold around, the bulls won’t have cap space.

I believe Doug said a few posts above but we can get to the needed amount by releasing Lauri and stretching Aminu.

You can get to $28m by waiving both Sato, Thad, stretching Aminu, and telling all other FAs to get stuffed.

You'd only have 5 guys contracted, with a lot of spots to fill, meaning that $28m ain't doing much for you.

They won't be waiving both Sato and Thad, maybe not even one of them, as the upside isn't there to create enough space to do so.

I don't think the Bulls will want to be a cap space team this offseason. For them to be one, they have to giving up a lot to get there.

The cap space needed to give lavine a raise and extenstion to the max is like 10 mill. Not 28. And Doug said that could be done while keeping Thad and Sato.

You also don't have to have these decisions made before the moratorium ends. So you'll know where the chess pieces land before a decision is made.

[WindyCityBorn]

I believe Doug said a few posts above but we can get to the needed amount by releasing Lauri and stretching Aminu.

You can get to $28m by waiving both Sato, Thad, stretching Aminu, and telling all other FAs to get stuffed.

You'd only have 5 guys contracted, with a lot of spots to fill, meaning that $28m ain't doing much for you.

They won't be waiving both Sato and Thad, maybe not even one of them, as the upside isn't there to create enough space to do so.

I don't think the Bulls will want to be a cap space team this offseason. For them to be one, they have to giving up a lot to get there.

The cap space needed to give lavine a raise and extenstion to the max is like 10 mill. Not 28. And Doug said that could be done while keeping Thad and Sato.

You also don't have to have these decisions made before the moratorium ends. So you'll know where the chess pieces land before a decision is made.

Unless we are just deathly afraid of sucking again and him walking for nothing in 2022 I would really like to use our cap space to upgrade the roster and not just lock Zach up. We need every bit of flexibility.

[kingkirk]

The cap space needed to give lavine a raise and extenstion to the max is like 10 mill. Not 28. And Doug said that could be done while keeping Thad and Sato.

You also don't have to have these decisions made before the moratorium ends. So you'll know where the chess pieces land before a decision is made.

Yes, that's true, but now you have no space to actually improve and obviously flawed roster.

Not ideal.

[TheStig]

You can get to $28m by waiving both Sato, Thad, stretching Aminu, and telling all other FAs to get stuffed.

You'd only have 5 guys contracted, with a lot of spots to fill, meaning that $28m ain't doing much for you.

They won't be waiving both Sato and Thad, maybe not even one of them, as the upside isn't there to create enough space to do so.

I don't think the Bulls will want to be a cap space team this offseason. For them to be one, they have to giving up a lot to get there.

The cap space needed to give lavine a raise and extenstion to the max is like 10 mill. Not 28. And Doug said that could be done while keeping Thad and Sato.

You also don't have to have these decisions made before the moratorium ends. So you'll know where the chess pieces land before a decision is made.

Unless we are just deathly afraid of sucking again and him walking for nothing in 2022 I would really like to use our cap space to upgrade the roster and not just lock Zach up. We need every bit of flexibility.

I was just saying that if you can't make a big move to add talent, then you better give the money to Zach.

Problem is that signing Lauri takes all the cap space or you need to dump Thad/Sato/Lauri to get someone. So it makes it very difficult to add someone.

It's almost like it has to be via trade due to the limited FA's and people we'd have to dump.

[WindyCityBorn]

The cap space needed to give lavine a raise and extenstion to the max is like 10 mill. Not 28. And Doug said that could be done while keeping Thad and Sato.

You also don't have to have these decisions made before the moratorium ends. So you'll know where the chess pieces land before a decision is made.

Unless we are just deathly afraid of sucking again and him walking for nothing in 2022 I would really like to use our cap space to upgrade the roster and not just lock Zach up. We need every bit of flexibility.

I was just saying that if you can't make a big move to add talent, then you better give the money to Zach.

Problem is that signing Lauri takes all the cap space or you need to dump Thad/Sato/Lauri to get someone. So it makes it very difficult to add someone.

It's almost like it has to be via trade due to the limited FA's and people we'd have to dump.

Are we going to sign Lauri though? Based on how we are using him even with LaVine out it seems unlikely he is a Bull next season.

[kingkirk]

I was just saying that if you can't make a big move to add talent, then you better give the money to Zach.

Problem is that signing Lauri takes all the cap space or you need to dump Thad/Sato/Lauri to get someone. So it makes it very difficult to add someone.

It's almost like it has to be via trade due to the limited FA's and people we'd have to dump.

If they're planning to re-sing Lauri, thus keeping his cap hold / new deal on the books, it's very unlikely that they will create the necessary space to re-sign LaVine, who probably doesn't want to do that, anyway.

The above is why trading Lauri makes the most sense for the Bulls, followed by letting him walk.

[TheStig]

I was just saying that if you can't make a big move to add talent, then you better give the money to Zach.

Problem is that signing Lauri takes all the cap space or you need to dump Thad/Sato/Lauri to get someone. So it makes it very difficult to add someone.

It's almost like it has to be via trade due to the limited FA's and people we'd have to dump.

If they're planning to re-sing Lauri, thus keeping his cap hold / new deal on the books, it's very unlikely that they will create the necessary space to re-sign LaVine, who probably doesn't want to do that, anyway.

The above is why trading Lauri makes the most sense for the Bulls, followed by letting him walk.

You don't think Lavine wants an extra 10 million next year and a max extension?

I don't know what their plan is. Is there really a better option for Lauri's cap hit? His value is hurt. Maybe all he gets is low offers and they bring him back. If they keep Sato and Thad, what do they have to spend? The MLE range?

[TheStig]

Unless we are just deathly afraid of sucking again and him walking for nothing in 2022 I would really like to use our cap space to upgrade the roster and not just lock Zach up. We need every bit of flexibility.

I was just saying that if you can't make a big move to add talent, then you better give the money to Zach.

Problem is that signing Lauri takes all the cap space or you need to dump Thad/Sato/Lauri to get someone. So it makes it very difficult to add someone.

It's almost like it has to be via trade due to the limited FA's and people we'd have to dump.

Are we going to sign Lauri though? Based on how we are using him even with LaVine out it seems unlikely he is a Bull next season.

If you're keeping Sato and Thad, what are you getting that's better for around the MLE? Keep in mind if they go over the cap, they still get the MLE anyway. So letting Lauri walk, is really for nothing.

[WindyCityBorn]

I was just saying that if you can't make a big move to add talent, then you better give the money to Zach.

Problem is that signing Lauri takes all the cap space or you need to dump Thad/Sato/Lauri to get someone. So it makes it very difficult to add someone.

It's almost like it has to be via trade due to the limited FA's and people we'd have to dump.

Are we going to sign Lauri though? Based on how we are using him even with LaVine out it seems unlikely he is a Bull next season.

If you're keeping Sato and Thad, what are you getting that's better for around the MLE? Keep in mind if they go over the cap, they still get the MLE anyway. So letting Lauri walk, is really for nothing.

Yeah you are probably right. Aminu being tagged ok with Vuc hasn’t left us much wiggle room. We REALLY need a good PG though. Might have to find a way trade for one.

[TheStig]

Are we going to sign Lauri though? Based on how we are using him even with LaVine out it seems unlikely he is a Bull next season.

If you're keeping Sato and Thad, what are you getting that's better for around the MLE? Keep in mind if they go over the cap, they still get the MLE anyway. So letting Lauri walk, is really for nothing.

Yeah you are probably right. Aminu being tagged ok with Vuc hasn’t left us much wiggle room. We REALLY need a good PG though. Might have to find a way trade for one.

You don't really have any assets though. What are you trading for a pg? You pretty much have to take on a bad deal or someone that is being dumped.

[WindyCityBorn]

If you're keeping Sato and Thad, what are you getting that's better for around the MLE? Keep in mind if they go over the cap, they still get the MLE anyway. So letting Lauri walk, is really for nothing.

Yeah you are probably right. Aminu being tagged ok with Vuc hasn’t left us much wiggle room. We REALLY need a good PG though. Might have to find a way trade for one.

You don't really have any assets though. What are you trading for a pg? You pretty much have to take on a bad deal or someone that is being dumped.

Sign Ball and hope for the best or trade for one. If we go into next season with Coby/Sato it will be another miserable year unless Coby makes a dramatic leap in his 3rd season.

[TheStig]

Yeah you are probably right. Aminu being tagged ok with Vuc hasn’t left us much wiggle room. We REALLY need a good PG though. Might have to find a way trade for one.

You don't really have any assets though. What are you trading for a pg? You pretty much have to take on a bad deal or someone that is being dumped.

Sign Ball and hope for the best or trade for one. If we go into next season with Coby/Sato it will be another miserable year unless Coby makes a dramatic leap in his 3rd season.

That's the thing though. It's not just sign ball. It's hope to sign ball at around 25-26 mill and then cut thad, sato, renounce lauri, stretch aminu and lose theis bird rights. You're left with Ball, Lavine, Pwill, Vuc, Coby, brown, the room exceptions and minimums. How exactly is that team better than this years team? I get Ball is a good starter but you stripped out half your rotation for him and have no other money to get anyone of consequence in.

The only way I see this working out is with trades. Like if Ball says I'm going to NY or a sign and trade to Chicago. We move Sato, Aminu and Coby for him. That allows us to resign Lauri and Theis and then use the MLE on a wing. Something along those lines. But then again if NO wanted Coby, I'm sure they could have made that deal at the deadline.

[Wingy]

So sick of talk of Lonzo Fraking Ball. You do not overpay that guy, just like you don’t overpay Lauri. If you think we’re screwed now...oh boy. Let’s throw $20-25mm at Lonzo Ball, and the see what screwed really means.