There is Markannen to Spurs Buzz

[exstatic]

Tampering does not apply to players.

The 2008 Olympics were where the Heatles hatched their plan for 2010. You’re not wrong.

[scott]

Didn't Dejounte mention he and Trae were texting ahead of his trade to ATL?

The sanctioned player-level tampering is wild. Wemby will be in Paris with a lot of top players. Maybe he can "hang out" with a few.

[sfernald]

This is bound to trigger some of the Sochan stans and sniffers who call this website home, but you are spot on. Maybe this is too nuanced a take for some on this board though, but that doesn't mean we should be looking to dump Sochan or that he can't improve... but that's a fair representation of where he is today. He still has some upside to the point where I believe you can probably still easily get a positive asset for him (like a late FRP or multiple SRPs), but it cracks me up to see folks say including Sochan for Lauri is a deal breaker. Right now, he's one of the worst starting PFs in the entire NBA. PER is an imperfect stat, but his (11.50) ranks 66th in the league amongst qualifying PFs, just right above ancient Jeff Green (and for those who don't know PER, 15.0 is an "average" NBA player, though PER undervalues defensive performance and the stat itself recognizes that).

You guys really need to turn in your ST cards at this point

[ChumpDumper]

I'd absolutely trade Sochan for Lauri.

That's why Ainge is asking for Vassel.

[JPB]

This is bound to trigger some of the Sochan stans and sniffers who call this website home, but you are spot on. Maybe this is too nuanced a take for some on this board though, but that doesn't mean we should be looking to dump Sochan or that he can't improve... but that's a fair representation of where he is today. He still has some upside to the point where I believe you can probably still easily get a positive asset for him (like a late FRP or multiple SRPs), but it cracks me up to see folks say including Sochan for Lauri is a deal breaker. Right now, he's one of the worst starting PFs in the entire NBA. PER is an imperfect stat, but his (11.50) ranks 66th in the league amongst qualifying PFs, just right above ancient Jeff Green (and for those who don't know PER, 15.0 is an "average" NBA player, though PER undervalues defensive performance and the stat itself recognizes that).

Time will tell how they will all evolve, and I wish them good, but as of now the 2022 draft is objectively a complete failure.

[rankingtear]

Lauri needs Sochan, his whole thing is playing an oversized wing next to a versatile defender at the 4. So Sochan included in a Lauri package makes little sense. Sochan would likely be a long term piece if they trade for Lauri.

[scott]

Lauri needs Sochan, his whole thing is playing an oversized wing next to a versatile defender at the 4. So Sochan included in a Lauri package makes little sense. Sochan would likely be a long term piece if they trade for Lauri.

Let's see...

All-Star Wing without complimentary defensive role player who can't shoot next to him.

or

Complimentary defensive role role player who can't shoot with a complimentary role player next to him.

Tough call.

Basically, you're suggesting that Lauri and Barnes is worse than Sochan and Barnes. I'm gonna go ahead and say nah to that idea, dawg.

[Rosewood]

Let's see...

All-Star Wing without complimentary defensive role player who can't shoot next to him.

or

Complimentary defensive role role player who can't shoot with a complimentary role player next to him.

Tough call.

Basically, you're suggesting that Lauri and Barnes is worse than Sochan and Barnes. I'm gonna go ahead and say nah to that idea, dawg.

Barnes is not a long term piece and Sochan is 21 years old. The hope is Sochan will improve as well.

[LeBowen]

Barnes is not a long term piece and Sochan is 21 years old. The hope is Sochan will improve as well.

The problem with that hope is that there are very few indications he will.
His EFG was the same in both seasons, his percentage at the rim with dunks excluded is below 50% and his 2pt shooting outside the paint is in low 30s.
He's got nothing going for him.

Anyhow, even if we look at his good side, which is defense, for all intents and purposes, he won't be a wing on defense yet again.
Short-term CP3 won't be the point of attack defender, meaning Jeremy will be tasked with it again. But if he's chasing ballhandlers all over the floor, he's not a wing defender.

Long-term Castle is going to take that role, but two of them won't be able to play together until they improve their shooting.

I'm not giving up on Jeremy just for the sake of it and I'm not trading him away for anyone, but if Utah values him and wants him, it's a no brainer because the entire league has a grand total of 3 players who are shooting over 40% from 3pt range on high volume and are legit 7 footers.

Jeremy has potenial, but as things stand now, chances of him being nothing more than a solid bench player are way higher than him becoming a legit starter on a playoff team.

[scott]

The problem with that hope is that there are very few indications he will.
His EFG was the same in both seasons, his percentage at the rim with dunks excluded is below 50% and his 2pt shooting outside the paint is in low 30s.
He's got nothing going for him.

Anyhow, even if we look at his good side, which is defense, for all intents and purposes, he won't be a wing on defense yet again.
Short-term CP3 won't be the point of attack defender, meaning Jeremy will be tasked with it again. But if he's chasing ballhandlers all over the floor, he's not a wing defender.

Long-term Castle is going to take that role, but two of them won't be able to play together until they improve their shooting.

I'm not giving up on Jeremy just for the sake of it and I'm not trading him away for anyone, but if Utah values him and wants him, it's a no brainer because the entire league has a grand total of 3 players who are shooting over 40% from 3pt range on high volume and are legit 7 footers.

Jeremy has potenial, but as things stand now, chances of him being nothing more than a solid bench player are way higher than him becoming a legit starter on a playoff team.

And... it's obviously a lot easier to replace Sochan than it is Lauri.

[rankingtear]

Let's see...

All-Star Wing without complimentary defensive role player who can't shoot next to him.

or

Complimentary defensive role role player who can't shoot with a complimentary role player next to him.

Tough call.

Basically, you're suggesting that Lauri and Barnes is worse than Sochan and Barnes. I'm gonna go ahead and say nah to that idea, dawg.

Lauri is a polarizing player. If not in an ideal role roster setup, his defensive shortcomings would show up. One of the reasons UTA is the worst defensive team last year.

[LeBowen]

Lauri is a polarizing player. If not in an ideal role roster setup, his defensive shortcomings would show up. One of the reasons UTA is the worst defensive team last year.

Yeah, I'm sure they're the worst defensive team because of Lauri and not because they had an undersized guard duo and a 6'9 starting center.

[exstatic]

The problem with that hope is that there are very few indications he will.
His EFG was the same in both seasons, his percentage at the rim with dunks excluded is below 50% and his 2pt shooting outside the paint is in low 30s.
He's got nothing going for him.

Anyhow, even if we look at his good side, which is defense, for all intents and purposes, he won't be a wing on defense yet again.
Short-term CP3 won't be the point of attack defender, meaning Jeremy will be tasked with it again. But if he's chasing ballhandlers all over the floor, he's not a wing defender.

Long-term Castle is going to take that role, but two of them won't be able to play together until they improve their shooting.

I'm not giving up on Jeremy just for the sake of it and I'm not trading him away for anyone, but if Utah values him and wants him, it's a no brainer because the entire league has a grand total of 3 players who are shooting over 40% from 3pt range on high volume and are legit 7 footers.

Jeremy has potenial, but as things stand now, chances of him being nothing more than a solid bench player are way higher than him becoming a legit starter on a playoff team.

That’s not a stat, it’s a trope to bash a player. I’ve seen you post this at least a half dozen times, and it’s garbage. His percentage in the restricted area is 66%, so unless the NBA is thinking of outlawing dunks, your pseudo stat is a big nothing burger.

[LeBowen]

That’s not a stat, it’s a trope to bash a player. I’ve seen you post this at least a half dozen times, and it’s garbage. His percentage in the restricted area is 66%, so unless the NBA is thinking of outlawing dunks, your pseudo stat is a big nothing burger.

https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1631110/shooting

It says he was 193/316 in the restricted area, 61%.
68/76 on dunks, 125/240 without dunks in the restricted area.

The only reason I'm taking dunks away is because all of his dunks are uncontested. If he was dunking on people, fine.
Most of his points are easy because he's the player opposition pays the least attention to.

He's at 35% in the paint, want me to use that one?
Midrange is at 27%.

I'd say that he's easily one of the worst starters in the league on offense. Maybe even the worst if we don't include teams that are trying to lose games on purpose.
Elite shooters who are awful defenders can't stay on the floor in the playoffs, but same goes for awful offensive players. Especially if they're not bigs.

Again, I'm fine with him staying and Spurs trying to make him useful on offense, but if Ainge values him, I'd volunteer to take him to Utah myself.

[z0sa]

people's love of garbage Sochan
one of the most replaceable players in the League

[baseline bum]

people's love of garbage Sochan
one of the most replaceable players in the League

Yeah he's a pretty crap player so far. Still like his defensive potential enough to pay for two more years at the rookie scale and see if he ever develops into somebody, but would never even factor him into major roster decisions. Like don't draft Castle because how can he play with Sochan? that, if they can't play together Sochan goes to the second string.

[rankingtear]

Yeah, I'm sure they're the worst defensive team because of Lauri and not because they had an undersized guard duo and a 6'9 starting center.

They are not this bad last 2 years with Vando and the same undersized guard rotation and a worst defensive 5 in Olynyk. They are actually knocking on the playoff before they blew it up. CLE set the blueprint of a impactful version of Markannen, you treat him as a wing with a 4 that can defend down.

[baseline bum]

This is bound to trigger some of the Sochan stans and sniffers who call this website home, but you are spot on. Maybe this is too nuanced a take for some on this board though, but that doesn't mean we should be looking to dump Sochan or that he can't improve... but that's a fair representation of where he is today. He still has some upside to the point where I believe you can probably still easily get a positive asset for him (like a late FRP or multiple SRPs), but it cracks me up to see folks say including Sochan for Lauri is a deal breaker. Right now, he's one of the worst starting PFs in the entire NBA. PER is an imperfect stat, but his (11.50) ranks 66th in the league amongst qualifying PFs, just right above ancient Jeff Green (and for those who don't know PER, 15.0 is an "average" NBA player, though PER undervalues defensive performance and the stat itself recognizes that).

Forget PER, his VORP is -0.8, good for 560th out of 572 players in the league. I can already hear the 'but Sochan PG experiment' excuse, which is easily shot down pointing out he was 529 out of 539 with a -0.7 VORP in 2022-23.

[KobesAchilles]

Sochan being such a bad shooter hurts this team offensively. But I argue that Pop ruined him by playing him point guard. He basically made Sochan focus on a lot of he shouldn’t be focusing on.

Pop needs to hire Oberto. That’s who Sochan needs to model his offensive game after. I would say splitter but Sochan doesn’t have any touch around the rim. It’s sad how bad he is on offense. If the dude doesn’t get a dunk he pretty much can’t score the basketball in the paint. But anyways Sochan needs to learn angles, where to be, how
to do drop/dump passes in the paint. He needs to learn when to cut, when to go to the dunker spot, when to set a screen to get a man open. There’s such a nuance that Sochan has no idea how to actually play basketball. And I believe Oberto could teach that to him (and if not then Sochan isn’t going to make it as a starter).

[scott]

At this point, Sochan is basically Ben Simmons who doesn't defend as well, doesn't have the same playmaking ability, and doesn't have Simmons' finishing touch around the rim.

At least Sochan lacks whatever mental block Simmons has and still has time to improve.

[JPB]

Sochan being such a bad shooter hurts this team offensively. But I argue that Pop ruined him by playing him point guard. He basically made Sochan focus on a lot of he shouldn’t be focusing on.

Pop needs to hire Oberto. That’s who Sochan needs to model his offensive game after. I would say splitter but Sochan doesn’t have any touch around the rim. It’s sad how bad he is on offense. If the dude doesn’t get a dunk he pretty much can’t score the basketball in the paint. But anyways Sochan needs to learn angles, where to be, how
to do drop/dump passes in the paint. He needs to learn when to cut, when to go to the dunker spot, when to set a screen to get a man open. There’s such a nuance that Sochan has no idea how to actually play basketball. And I believe Oberto could teach that to him (and if not then Sochan isn’t going to make it as a starter).

He needs to get over himself.

[SpursFan86]

Sorry if this is just regurgitated news that’s already been posted here.

[NASpurs]

Sorry if this is just regurgitated news that’s already been posted here.

FTFY

[Dejounte]

Can this saga end already? August cant come soon enough to hear the news about Lauri re-signing

[scott]

With Summer League over and the Olympics ramping up, Ainge has to kick up the rumor mill again to try and drive GSW or SAS to blink and give up the bag. He knows he isn't extending Lauri, and the bottom falls out of his leverage come 8/6. I'd expect to hear more and more rumors, some real - most fabricated - as we approach 8/6.