07-29-2024, 11:38 AM
(07-29-2024, 11:14 AM)MarkAguirreWrathofGod Wrote: This sounds like Ainge bargaining through the media to me. Best case for “win-now” for them would be an 8th seed, even if they keep Markannnen and trade for someone like Ingram. Fully expect a trade and tank.
I was listening to the latest Lowe post (I think with Tim Mc). They were discussing the Jazz. Lowe did bring up the Brandon Ingram thing and I am guessing where that rumor came from. It was built that the Pelicans are near August and don't have a starting center and have too many similar guys on the perimeter (need the ball). Lowe said someone told him that maybe the Pelicans had something lined up. Said with the down market with Ingram that the Jazz wouldn't need to give up a lot of their premium draft assets. Lowe also said that the Jazz were surprisingly very aggressive on Mikal Bridges and may have had the better offer.
I think both thought this wasn't something that would not happen though with Ingram. They sort of came to a conclusion that they would sign Lauri after the august date where he could not be traded next year. The Jazz have 6 guys who were first round picks (one early second round) in the past two drafts, plus a guy like Kessler who is also a young player. They thought the most likely path was to trade Collins and Sexton, keep Lauri and play the young guys. They could reevaluate next offseason. The thinking even with Lauri, they will probably be the second worst team in the West if they did these things.