2021 Free Agency

[Walt Cronkite]

SOMEONE CONVINCE ME HOW MAKKANEN IS BETTER THAN PJ!!!!!

And even if he is better (which I am not at all convinced of), how is he better in such a way that it justifies spending $15-$20mil a year on Markkanen over $5mil a year on PJ?

Statistically, Lauri is a better rebounder, turns the ball over less, uses more possessions and takes more 3s. He is probably the better shooter. PJ gets more blocks and steals and probably is the better playmaker. I would guess PJ is the better defender, though they both allow 111 pts per 100 possessions.

I don't know if you can be convinced he is better than PJ or that it is justifiable to spend for him with pj on the roster. Maybe the plan is to have both? Challenge PJ to improve? Have similar but different players for Ball to improve with?

[GoBobs]

I’m telling you right now Lauri sucks

[Redemption Bong]

Sup dudes, Lauri was at his best his rookie season when Hoiberg actually made pick and roll/pop with Kris Dunn a major part of the closing offense. As a starter playing for the Hoiberg Bulls, he was a major part of the rotation that won 8 straight, 11 out of 13.

If Melo is initiating the pick at the top he's either getting a free runway to the rim or Lauri will get a wide open look from 3.

Lauri is a willing cutter, he and Melo could be pretty dynamic together.

[SWedd523]

He WAS an 18/9 guy his second year in the league, so there is definitely some promise there for production.

[amcoolio]

SOMEONE CONVINCE ME HOW MAKKANEN IS BETTER THAN PJ!!!!!

And even if he is better (which I am not at all convinced of), how is he better in such a way that it justifies spending $15-$20mil a year on Markkanen over $5mil a year on PJ?

I don't think PJ will ever be the shooter Markkanen is, for one

Lauri is also taller and harder to defend

Lauri can also run the pick and roll with LaMelo, and I don't ever see PJ doing that either

And, we aren't giving up PJ. Why not have both? Are we really too good for a 50/40/86 shooter?

[driveandkick]

SOMEONE CONVINCE ME HOW MAKKANEN IS BETTER THAN PJ!!!!!

And even if he is better (which I am not at all convinced of), how is he better in such a way that it justifies spending $15-$20mil a year on Markkanen over $5mil a year on PJ?

He’s not. PJ is better at everything that’s not shooting - and even shooting PJ isn’t bad at.

[JDR720]

The real question is...can he finnish?

[JDR720]

Are we finnished with our offseason if we sign him?

[JDR720]

Speaking of PJ...is he finnished as a starter if we sign him?

Is Lauri going to be injured a lot...so his season will be finnished early every year?

[Liver_Pooty]

I'm only okay with this if we're flipping PJ for something. Turner like Yose has mentioned a lot just makes too much sense.

[JDR720]

I'm only okay with this if we're flipping PJ for something. Turner like Yose has mentioned a lot just makes too much sense.

Signing Lauri may indeed finnish PJ's time with the team .

[luciano-davidwesley]

Maybe Lauri is being targeted as a backup or depth player and the amount we are offering him is less than reported. Maybe it's not a matter of PJ OR Lauri but PJ AND Lauri.

Something like 2/$26 or 3/$39 is more palatable and would be in line with our rough cap space left. It's pretty much the most he can command with available cap space on the market and we'd only be bidding against ourselves if we offered more.

We need to strengthen our bench shooting a bit as it is weaker than it was last year.

[JDR720]

Maybe Lauri is being targeted as a backup or depth player and the amount we are offering him is less than reported. Maybe it's not a matter of PJ OR Lauri but PJ AND Lauri.

Something like 2/$26 or 3/$39 is more palatable and would be in line with our rough cap space left. It's pretty much the most he can command with available cap space on the market and we'd only be bidding against ourselves if we offered more.

We need to strengthen our bench shooting a bit as it is weaker than it was last year.

We'll know as soon as the negotiating is finnished I guess.

[Bassman]

I'm a bit torn on that series of tweets with the $20M figure. having a "quote" from a Bulls front office person saying "they can have him" is SUPER suspect but at the same time, I'm not sure what any insider, fake or otherwise, would have to gain by throwing out numbers when they could be proven wrong any minute now when actual reports start trickling out.

I’d GUARANTEE that’s Markkanen‘s agent planting stuff to push up the price. Problem is he’s chattering to an empty room. Two teams able to get a anywhere close, and we’re the biggest. He’s trying to get us to dump our twins and another player to reach max stretch available money. Nope.

Unless you are in the front office, how can you guarantee anything?

Blows my mind when people, especially posters, "guarantee" things.

OK Slam…it’s excitement chatter. Please don’t take it so literal.

[JDR720]

I’d GUARANTEE that’s Markkanen‘s agent planting stuff to push up the price. Problem is he’s chattering to an empty room. Two teams able to get a anywhere close, and we’re the biggest. He’s trying to get us to dump our twins and another player to reach max stretch available money. Nope.

Unless you are in the front office, how can you guarantee anything?

Blows my mind when people, especially posters, "guarantee" things.

OK Slam…it’s excitement chatter. Please don’t take it so literal.

Slam is finnished with him before he is even on the team.

[JDR720]

Ok, I'll stop now....or shall I say...I'm finnished.

[JDR720]

When he dunks, Eric is going to yell "Finnish him!"

Ok, I'm really finnished now.

[JDR720]

The Finnisher : The Lauri Markkanen Thread

[BigSlam]

http://global.nba.com/players/vs/#!/pj_washington/lauri_markkanen

[SWedd523]

The real question is...can he finnish?

Ask your mom