There is Markannen to Spurs Buzz

[exstatic]

He definitely does

Just saying Ainge won’t let him go unless he gets a grewt return

He
Is
On
The
Clock.

[R. DeMurre]

Danny Ainge has a reputation that's deserved, but I think the early takes on the Gobert trade jumped the gun and are changing now, and there's reason to believe that Tim Connelly did pretty well going head-to-head with him. Gobert and Mike Conley are both important in Minnesota's being relevant, and the picks/swaps of '25, '26, & '27 are probably going to be relatively inconsequential: a couple of picks in the mid 20s, and a swap that won't convey. That leaves just the '29 pick as potentially being something substantial. Connelly bet on his team being good for the foreseeable future, and so far, that bet is paying off.

[spurraider21]

He
Is
On
The
Clock.

why is he on the clock. why not just extend lauri. or sign him back for the max when he hits FA? and then wait to trade him next year?

[Ignazzz]

2025 plan?

[Leetonidas]

Does anyone realize the Jazz GM is actually Justin Zanik? im sure as POBO that Ainge has a lot of power I just think it's funny I don't think I've seen anyone reference Zanik at all in this thread

[Mr. Body]

Danny Ainge has a reputation that's deserved, but I think the early takes on the Gobert trade jumped the gun and are changing now, and there's reason to believe that Tim Connelly did pretty well going head-to-head with him. Gobert and Mike Conley are both important in Minnesota's being relevant, and the picks/swaps of '25, '26, & '27 are probably going to be relatively inconsequential: a couple of picks in the mid 20s, and a swap that won't convey. That leaves just the '29 pick as potentially being something substantial. Connelly bet on his team being good for the foreseeable future, and so far, that bet is paying off.

Cleveland resigning Mitc makes a big difference, too. It still seems a safe bet that some of those MN picks might be sweet given Gobert's age and roster trouble, but Wolves have a pretty strong GM and they can figure a way out. If Edwards continues his trajectory, even if they decay as a contender they may never be that bad.

Ainge really needs to bottom out and stop pretending with the Markkanen situation. He can't go into the season with him on the roster, so just swallow his dumb pride and move off him. His insistence on winning every trade by a mile is eating up his runway right now.

[Chinook]

Does anyone realize the Jazz GM is actually Justin Zanik? im sure as POBO that Ainge has a lot of power I just think it's funny I don't think I've seen anyone reference Zanik at all in this thread

Because GMs aren't always (or maybe even usually) the key decision-makers of their teams. I've been saying this about Wright, and folks ignore it and keep singling him out for criticism.

[spurraider21]

Chinook for the august date

[R. DeMurre]

Does anyone realize the Jazz GM is actually Justin Zanik? im sure as POBO that Ainge has a lot of power I just think it's funny I don't think I've seen anyone reference Zanik at all in this thread

True, but look at what Chris Paul said after he was signed: that a talk with Pop convinced him... it wasn't a conversation with Brian Wright.

[RC_Drunkford]

I doubt the Spurs would like that tbh. It makes more sense for them to renegotiate that contract and pay Markkanen significant extra money this year to get some type of discount at the end of his deal where Wemby would be on the max.

[LeBowen]

Tbh, biggest takeaway is that Spurs can offer the best package and should just tell Ainge call us after you've exhausted all other options so we can see what's the best offer you got.
Then they either beat it or say Markkanen isn't worth that much.

[ace3g]

[Mr. Body]

Chinook for the august date

If he's extended, it gets much harder to handle his salary. And then in six months no one's going to even remember Markkanen's on the market since a billion other things will have happened.

Ainge really needs to get this done. He won't want to enter the season with Markkanen needing to keep up his stats while the team wants to super-tank. And the risk is high they won't be able to move him at all for a while and might be stuck with a player they don't want at this time.

[scott]

I said this earlier, but I think Ainge/Zanik (to give proper credit - AAFTO?) have probably committed to moving Lauri (not Ainge, that was a typo - sorry) this offseason, and that the "we don't want to trade him" is just them being good at their jobs, just like all these leaks of "20 teams have called" is. AAFTO is trying to squeeze every last drop out of this deal, and they should (in their position).

I also believe there are likely multiple teams registering serious interest, and probably a small handful of teams (and maybe those teams are in fact, GSW, SAS and SAC... but maybe it's some others) who have made "significant offers". These leaks are just AAFTO trying to squeeze out a few more assets. AAFTO is doing their duty to their team. Whether or not it works, is another question. He only needs one team to blink, and he has time.

Where he loses leverage is when Aug 6 comes (if that is in fact the date) and the days start to pass by with no extension. At that point, it becomes obvious that there will be no extension, and one threat to the acquisition will be taken off the table. Right now, the idea of extending Lauri gives AAFTO leverage - and that's why you hear the story "we don't want to trade Lauri". If teams were allowed to collude, it would be everyone's best interest to wait until after 8/6 to make real offers... but since they can't, it only requires one team to defect. This is Game Theory 101. The Nash Equilibrium here is that Lauri gets traded before 8/6 for a price higher than what will be required after 8/6.

For PAFTO, I don't see them as a team that will blink.

Edit: corrected typo

[Chinook]

Chinook for the august date

The question is, did Stein confirm that date with the league office, or did he confirm the trade deadline and people are just assuming he confirmed the anniversary? There's a legit chance that the buzz Stein's post is going to cost will persuade someone who can provide actual clarity to do so. If I were one of those folks who tweeted at people, I would want to ask Stein or Marks or even Smith if that anniversary was actually confirmed. Right now, there are a lot of people reporting this based on what Stein posted, so it's clear it hasn't been public knowledge. It also wouldn't make sense why there'd be so much trade chatter involving Mark right now if the Jazz were going to sign him on 08/06. Besides the whole tanking thing, it's in their best interest to wait, and if Stein is to be believed, it'd be in the other teams' best interest too. So is Mark not game, and that's why this is coming up? Are the Jazz so scared of winning too many games that they're trying to force something while Marks near the pit of his value? Does Ainge think the extra cap space can be used more efficiently?

Ugh.

[Mr. Body]

I said this earlier, but I think Ainge/Zanik (to give proper credit - AAFTO?) have probably committed to moving Ainge this offseason,

Well, there's a twist.

[Ignazzz]

Bad news for spurs.

[scott]

From a non-Spurs perspective, this would make for a very interesting trade deadline!

[MultiTroll]

1.5 Career Assist ave
2.0 highest assist year ever, last year.

I get it, he's a shooter. However do NOT need another phuck who cannot / will not get Wemby the ball.

[LeBowen]

1.5 Career Assist ave
2.0 highest assist year ever, last year.

I get it, he's a shooter. However do NOT need another phuck who cannot / will not get Wemby the ball.

He'd give Wemby the space, something noone on this roster does.

CP3/Castle/Devin have the ball, teams have to choose between single-coverage in the paint or Wemby or leaving a 40% 3pt shooter wide open.
And as someone wrote earlier, Markkanen had 117 dunks this season, he's a great finisher.

[Mr. Body]

1.5 Career Assist ave
2.0 highest assist year ever, last year.

I get it, he's a shooter. However do NOT need another phuck who cannot / will not get Wemby the ball.

He's the sort of player who would kill any hopes of the beautiful game. He's like a far better Risacher to me. Doesn't use his height, not a great self-creator, can't pass very well. Risacher could play some defense, Markkanen can rebound. Otherwise they're terminal points in an offense. You can't expect them to create for others.

[MultiTroll]

He'd give Wemby the space, something noone on this roster does.

CP3/Castle/Devin have the ball, teams have to choose between single-coverage in the paint or Wemby or leaving a 40% 3pt shooter wide open.
And as someone wrote earlier, Markkanen had 117 dunks this season, he's a great finisher.

Good points.
I'm thinking long term. Want someone that is an all around player. Don't we all.
Very hard to find in todays NBA being the Kobme Generazion . Or they cost $$$$$$.

[Kevin]

1.5 Career Assist ave
2.0 highest assist year ever, last year.

I get it, he's a shooter. However do NOT need another phuck who cannot / will not get Wemby the ball.

Klay Thompson for his career averages 2.3 assist's and he's wing and not considered a ball hog or bad passer.

You cannot assume a guy's a ball hog/bad passer because of low assist numbers. Kobe averaged 4.5 assists and he's the biggest ball hog in NBA history.

[MultiTroll]

Is there another Ginobili?

Will there ever be?

[Manu&Duncan fan]

He
Is
On
The
Clock.

This!

Spur's offer is already too good to refuse. Lauri is dying to come here. Jazz is eager to tank.