2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[Fuerza1]

There is a whole lot of projection going on here for a guy that has been in the league 4 years, shown limited if any improvement, and has been demoted to the bench.  I realize he is young, but generally when you project growth in a 4 year player its because you have seen some level of progression.

If you are sending out Maxi for LM that means you are probably salary matching somewhere close to his 15 mil asking price.  That is an overpay unless he shows some significant improvement you are hoping for.  Meanwhile, Maxi is an asset on his contract, and much better fit for this teams needs.  We are already a top 10 offense and a below average defense.  We better have a really good reason to dump one of our few good defensive rotational players.

And the odds of LM reaching "Third banana on championship team" are virtually zero.  His defense at best will be passable, and he will never be able to protect the rim.  He can't create for himself or others.  I'm not even ready to call him an elite shooter yet.  He has had one good season in that area, and most of it was due to taking more wide open shots.  I realize he may have some upside, but I feel like people are talking themselves into more than is really there, and the market seems to agree.

Thank you for this post. I am appalled people actually think Lauri Markkanen is actually good? He is available for peanuts for a reason. His draft status is overlooking the scrub that he actually is. 

He is a poor man's poor man's Porzingis. His ceiling is a Bobby Portis type of offensive option off the bench but even then he lacks the toughness and energy Portis provides. Long term, he's closer to a guy like Anthony Tolliver honestly. 

And before anyone asks, yes, I have seen soft af Lauri Markkanen play and I've probably seen him more than anyone here since I live in Chicagoland area and regularly see Bulls games. As you mentioned, he has shown zero improvement. No midrange game, no go-to moves. He is god awful defensively. The only skill he can somewhat rely on is 3PT shooting, which is only average to above average. 

I don't think he comes here anyways because his role would/should be off the bench. Sounds like he wants to play big minutes and make that dough. Not opposed to having him on the team of course, but no worthwhile assets should be given. 

If you want to take a chance on a young talent, give me Jarred Vanderbilt over Lauri Markkanen by a country mile. 2 years younger, versatile, energy/hustle player who can actually play defense and rebound.