Well now we see why we didnt just do a Hart for Markannen swap. Chicago obviously wanted Hart and 1st round pick (even if it had protections that make it likely to convert to 2nd round picks), which Griff may have done.

The deal breaker for Griff and most of the NBA was Lauri's salary number demands. $17 mil per year??? Wow. Not worth it. If we wouldnt do $20 mil for Lonzo, then Griff was never doing even $15 mil per for Mark. Too injury prone and would be cost ineffective for a backup 4/5.

Thats starter money. Right now, Lauri cant be counted on to start, from an injury and production consistency standpoint. The risk for that contract to be a negative asset is far too possible for the Pels to take, especially in the midst of getting Zion to sign his inevitable supermax deal.

Well now I feel much better on missing out on Lauri. Hart's contract looks even better than it already does when considering the alternative and giving up a lottery protected, 1st round pick. Hard Pass.

Side note: Chicago did rather well to get Derrick Jones Jr. as well. He's Josh Hart lite with way more athletic ability and jumps out the gym (Dunk champion). Still has room to grow and is a solid backup 3. Portland got in on the deal and got Nance Jr. for a late 1st/2nd round pick. Not a needle mover for Dame, but not a bad deal. Actually helps out Portland and Nance may do really well having more space to operate in the paint bc of better spacing than he ever had in Cleveland or Brooklyn. Nance may help Portland climb 1 seed spot from where they would have been. Nance averages 10 and 9. Pick and pop with Dame and CJ will help increase his scoring average. Now they replaced some of Melo's production and got more defense which is what Portland has always needed to take another step. Makes me slightly wonder again if we passed Portland. Without Melo, yeah, but replacing him with Nance, I still say we are better but Nance is a good defender to try to limit Zion's play.

This post was edited on 8/27/21 at 12:16 pm