Lauri Markkanen

[sunsfan88]

He's nothing like Kevin Love at all. Kevin Loves post up game in the paint is about as good as anyone. Look up his post up game on YouTube. You can't say oh he's kevin love without the rebounding that's like oh he's Steph without the 3 point shooting.

Love with the at Wolves lived in the paint occasionally shooting the 3.

Two completely different players with different playing styles.

To be fair, I said poor man's Love. I didn't say he will be as good as Love.

And secondly, Love isn't known for his rebounding, he's known for his prolific shooting from midrange and 3. Even when he had those 30/30 games with Minnesota, everyone knew he padded his stats in garbage time and they had no other rebounders on the team plus he wouldn't play defense so he can pad his rebounding numbers.

I'm not saying Markannen will be as good a defender as Love or anything but to say that Love is known for his rebounding as much as Steph is known for his 3pt shooting seems silly. Steph is undeniably the greatest 3pt shooter of all time while playing on a great team while I'm pretty sure Kevin Love has never even been top 5 in rebounding since being away the god awful Timberwolves.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was listening to the BSOTS podcast the other day and they like Lauri and they said he should only be seen as a C, not a PF.

He won't be a rim protector or anything but if Chriss can become an elite shotblocker then that would negate it.

I see Lauri as the taller and C version of Kevin Love. Poor man's Love ofcourse. He just needs to improve his rebounding to that of Love's level.

If Lauri is a center, the Suns need a center if Len walks. Actually I think the Suns greatest need in this draft is a defender and a center.

However, Zach Collins is a good center candidate and projects to go around #10. Markkanen is now slotted to go #9 in draft express. Maybe the Suns should look at him as well if they trade down.

 

[Errntknght]

Markannen will never develop into the rebounder Love was or is - he might make it to Nowitzki's level with hard work. Dirk is the better comparison than Love across the board, IMO - though I can't imagine Lauri reaching Dirk's level for anything like 19 years. He might rival him in three point shooting but not as an all around scorer and won't be the 'iron man'.

I just noticed that Dirk shot 21% from 3 his first year in the league so those of you bemoaning Bender shooting 28% (in half the playing time) his initial year should keep that in mind. Kevin Love began at 11% and pushed it to 33% his second year.

 

[sunsfan88]

I just noticed that Dirk shot 21% from 3 his first year in the league so those of you bemoaning Bender shooting 28% (in half the playing time) his initial year should keep that in mind. Kevin Love began at 11% and pushed it to 33% his second year.

The guy bemoaning that isn't back from his ban yet

 

[Russ Smith]

To be fair, I said poor man's Love. I didn't say he will be as good as Love.

And secondly, Love isn't known for his rebounding, he's known for his prolific shooting from midrange and 3. Even when he had those 30/30 games with Minnesota, everyone knew he padded his stats in garbage time and they had no other rebounders on the team plus he wouldn't play defense so he can pad his rebounding numbers.

I'm not saying Markannen will be as good a defender as Love or anything but to say that Love is known for his rebounding as much as Steph is known for his 3pt shooting seems silly. Steph is undeniably the greatest 3pt shooter of all time while playing on a great team while I'm pretty sure Kevin Love has never even been top 5 in rebounding since being away the god awful Timberwolves.

Love isn't known for his rebounding?

Career average 11.5, led the league one year at 15.2, IIRC he was top 5 in the NBA in both offensive and defensive rebounding that year. Love has great hands and has always been a terrific rebounder. He isn't a good defender and in cleveland's system now he shoots nothing but 3's so his O rebounding numbers are down close to 2 ORPG before this year, but he's always been a terrific rebounder.

He and Markkanen are totally different players coming into the NBA, Love was a postup guy at UCLA who killed teams inside and on offensive glass. Markkanen a face up shooter. Love improved his range, leaned out and became a good 3 point shooter in the NBA but he wasn't really one coming in. Markkanen took 163 threes in college in one year, Love took 29 in one year.

Markkanen might wind up being the same style player Love is now, but I doubt he's ever going to be that good of a rebounder. He's probably a better shooter though.

 

[JCSunsfan]

To be fair, I said poor man's Love. I didn't say he will be as good as Love.

And secondly, Love isn't known for his rebounding, he's known for his prolific shooting from midrange and 3. Even when he had those 30/30 games with Minnesota, everyone knew he padded his stats in garbage time and they had no other rebounders on the team plus he wouldn't play defense so he can pad his rebounding numbers.

I'm not saying Markannen will be as good a defender as Love or anything but to say that Love is known for his rebounding as much as Steph is known for his 3pt shooting seems silly. Steph is undeniably the greatest 3pt shooter of all time while playing on a great team while I'm pretty sure Kevin Love has never even been top 5 in rebounding since being away the god awful Timberwolves.

Don't know what to say to that.

 

[GatorAZ]

Markkanen vs Collins is a good debate. For the Suns I'd take Collins b/c he's more of a complete player. Great block rate and dominates the boards. He'll never shoot 3's at the volume of Lauri but he has great form. I was hoping LM would attend the combine so he'd be measured.

 

[WildBB]

Lauri is a shootah!

I like him. Hes like a white Dirk Nowitzki

I didn't know Nowitzki wasn't.

 

[Bodha]

I didn't know Nowitzki wasn't.

Hes been in the league a long time

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[Chris_Sanders]

NBADraft.Net compares him to Ryan Anderson. A perfect comparison.

 

[AzStevenCal]

NBADraft.Net compares him to Ryan Anderson. A perfect comparison.

Should I point out the times he's been favorably compared to Sabonis (the original) or Nowitzki?

To me, the Markkanen that played the first two months of the season is a lock for the Hall of Fame. The guy that played the last 6 weeks of the season is a small upgrade to Channing Frye. I don't know for sure which one is the real Markkanen. I believe his less inspiring play down the stretch is due solely to tired legs but I honestly don't know if I'm judging the situation accurately or simply making excuses for a player I like.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Should I point out the times he's been favorably compared to Sabonis (the original) or Nowitzki?

To me, the Markkanen that played the first two months of the season is a lock for the Hall of Fame. The guy that played the last 6 weeks of the season is a small upgrade to Channing Frye. I don't know for sure which one is the real Markkanen. I believe his less inspiring play down the stretch is due solely to tired legs but I honestly don't know if I'm judging the situation accurately or simply making excuses for a player I like.

Tired legs? He's 20 years old, Steve.

And he doesn't have near Dirk or Sabonis in his prime's athleticism.

I am at a total loss for words why you're so high in this kid. I mean... HOF level his first two months? Almost every statement you make about is more hyperbolic than the last.

 

[sdscard4]

I would completely lose my mind if we drafted him. But I also said the same thing if we dropped below a top 3 pick. So yeah it's pretty much a given we draft him

 

[sunsfan88]

Don't know what to say to that.

Love isn't known for his rebounding?

I'm not saying Love isn't a good rebounder but he's known more for his 3pt shooting than his rebounding. The guy I replied to implied that rebounding is as much to Love's game as 3pt shooting is to Steph's. That's just not true, Love is a better shooter/floor spacer than he is a rebounder.

Steph Curry is a great ball handler but I doubt either of you would say that he's known for his ball handling more than his shooting.

And btw there are more than just a few skepticals advanced analytics media people (Lowe among others) who think that Love's rebounding numbers were heavily garbage stats in Minnesota. He's still a very good rebounder but maybe not as great as his numbers show in Minnesota as he hasn't come close to achieving those same numbers for a team that isn't god awful every season.

My last time responding to this, will go back to the topic at hand now which is Markannen.

 

[Hoop Head]

Markkanen is this year's Frank Kaminsky, pass. Kaminsky was a better passer, rebounder, and shooter in his final year in college. I know Lauri is younger but that doesn't matter much to me. What makes him that much different from other 7 foot white guys this board has been enamored with in the past, Sabonis last year, Kaminsky 2 years ago, Zeller, or Olynyk. None of those guys are great players or even above average starters. Dirk is the exception, I don't see how Markkanen compares to him other than both being 7 foot white guys that can shoot, which is what he has in common with all of the other players I listed also.

I'd be upset if the Suns traded back into the lottery to get him and would lose all faith in the team if they reached for him at #4.

Here is a comparison of their college stats.

Kaminsky

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Markkanen

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[Russ Smith]

I'm not saying Love isn't a good rebounder but he's known more for his 3pt shooting than his rebounding. The guy I replied to implied that rebounding is as much to Love's game as 3pt shooting is to Steph's. That's just not true, Love is a better shooter/floor spacer than he is a rebounder.

Steph Curry is a great ball handler but I doubt either of you would say that he's known for his ball handling more than his shooting.

And btw there are more than just a few skepticals advanced analytics media people (Lowe among others) who think that Love's rebounding numbers were heavily garbage stats in Minnesota. He's still a very good rebounder but maybe not as great as his numbers show in Minnesota as he hasn't come close to achieving those same numbers for a team that isn't god awful every season.

My last time responding to this, will go back to the topic at hand now which is Markannen.

Fair enough clearly stats on a losing team are always open to skepticism. I guess I'm just saying the guy has been a dominant rebounder his whole career. What he is now is really new, and the primary reason he gets less rebounds in cleveland is how they use him, you can't get offensive boards if you're nowhere near the rim. And you're not going to get as many rebounds playing in a lineup that has Tristan Thompson and LeBron combining for 18 RPG. So yes his stats in Minnesota were inflated by who was around him but he had a 4 year run where he was among the 5 best rebounders in the NBA.

Markkanen is a totally different player, I actually like him quite a bit I just have the same question Steve does, which is the real Lauri the one who started the year looking amazing, or the one who finished the year looking pretty good?

 

[Finito]

Fair enough clearly stats on a losing team are always open to skepticism. I guess I'm just saying the guy has been a dominant rebounder his whole career. What he is now is really new, and the primary reason he gets less rebounds in cleveland is how they use him, you can't get offensive boards if you're nowhere near the rim. And you're not going to get as many rebounds playing in a lineup that has Tristan Thompson and LeBron combining for 18 RPG. So yes his stats in Minnesota were inflated by who was around him but he had a 4 year run where he was among the 5 best rebounders in the NBA.

Markkanen is a totally different player, I actually like him quite a bit I just have the same question Steve does, which is the real Lauri the one who started the year looking amazing, or the one who finished the year looking pretty good?

Bosh had to go through the same transition period. Lebron wants a big on his team but not someone in the paint.

 

[cwamjn]

If we tanked to draft this clumsy doofus, I'll lose it.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Laurie Markkanen reminds me a lot of Channing Frye in his strengths and weaknesses. Frye is probably a slightly better defender. Its not what I would want at #4 in this draft, but I don't think most would be suggesting it.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Laurie Markkanen reminds me a lot of Channing Frye in his strengths and weaknesses. Frye is probably a slightly better defender. Its not what I would want at #4 in this draft, but I don't think most would be suggesting it.

He is down to 12 on NBAdraft.net now. No way we take him at 4

 

[JCSunsfan]

He is down to 12 on NBAdraft.net now. No way we take him at 4

There is a reason. He is a great shooter, but he is average or below in the rest of his game. Great players have to excel in at least two aspects of the game (scoring/shooting, rebounding, rim protection, defense, passing). Most really great players do two things well consistently and can rise to the occasion in another area when needed.

 

[Bodha]

Laurie may be a 1 trick pony, but hes as elite as can be at that 1 trick. Hes a 7 foot shootah. Thats rare.

All else can be groomed and taught. No different than Bender, whos awful at everything. Or Chriss, who at least has athletic upside. You guys are so patient for them to learn, but not Laurie, whos already way ahead of both?

In 5 years, whos the better player: Bender or Laurie?

Easily Laurie. Then take Laurie.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Laurie may be a 1 trick pony, but hes as elite as can be at that 1 trick. Hes a 7 foot shootah. Thats rare.

All else can be groomed and taught. No different than Bender, whos awful at everything. Or Chriss, who at least has athletic upside. You guys are so patient for them to learn, but not Laurie, whos already way ahead of both?

He is a great secondary piece.

 

[Bodha]

He is a great secondary piece.

Thats what happens when you go from the #2 pick to the #4 pick.

Gotta make due. Laurie is the best option, I think.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Should I point out the times he's been favorably compared to Sabonis (the original) or Nowitzki?

To me, the Markkanen that played the first two months of the season is a lock for the Hall of Fame. The guy that played the last 6 weeks of the season is a small upgrade to Channing Frye. I don't know for sure which one is the real Markkanen. I believe his less inspiring play down the stretch is due solely to tired legs but I honestly don't know if I'm judging the situation accurately or simply making excuses for a player I like.

There is no way he has been compared to Arvydas Sabonis. Or if he has, that person never watched Sabonis play.

Sabonis outweighed him by 70 pounds. Sabonis was a post player who could shoot the three and was very good defensively despite being a dinosaur when he finally came to the NBA. Sabonis was a strong rebounder and a good shot blocker.