drosestruts wrote:coldfish wrote:https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/
Here are the teams that can offer $20m: Knicks (not happening with Toppin and Randle), Spurs, Thunder, Mavs, Raps (Siakam), Grizz (JJJ), Hornets and Heat.
That's not a long list. After that, teams can't even offer more than the MLE. Basically, if Spurs, Thunder, Mavs, Hornets or Heat don't offer Lauri a deal then either he returns or the Bulls get a sign and trade where they get something back of value.
That's why Portis blowing up is kind of a big deal. He might take up the slot that would have went to Lauri.
I'm still firmly in the "Lauris best position will be center" camp. As the 3 & 4 position continue to blend, Lauri doesn't have the footspeed to keep up with the Crowders, Giannis, KDs, or Kawhis of the world (just a sampling of the starting 4 of the last 4)
He would however have a footspeed advantage of guys like Zubac, Lopez, Griffin (not Ayton who I think moves pretty well).
I actually think Lauri would be a great fit on the Raptors, Hornets and/or Heat.
Siakam/Boucher & Lauri is a good balanced front court. Same for Adebayo and Markkanen. Washington & Markkanen is a bit more of a stretch today, but I could see it working.
Also those 3 teams would have FVV, LaMelo, and Butler - easily the best playmakers Lauri would have ever played with to date.
Lauri has had bad coaches for most of his career, and has been on bad teams, and played with players that poorly fit with his skillset. Lauri wasn't good enough to rise above these obstacles. Most players aren't.
I'm not a big Lauri fan, but I put the 4 years of disappointment more on the shoulders of the Bulls than on him.
I can’t see Pat Riley using all of his cap space on Lauri. I just don’t. I don’t think Popovich unless they are desperate. Not a big market so maybe.