SLC Dunk - NBA Trade Rumor: Price for Lauri Markkanen revealed

[James Hansen]

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What would it take to trade for Lauri Markkanen?

In a recent piece for the Athletic, potential offseason trades were discussed. Tony Jones revealed what a potential trade for Lauri Markkanen would require.

From @Tjonesonthenba:

"In a big picture, Markkanen’s value to the Jazz is so great that it’s going to take an offer that is probably not going to come to pry him from the Jazz. Something like four or five first-round picks, and a star-level talent coming over." https://t.co/BdZMAOIJwy

— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) May 3, 2024​

In the piece, there’s a trade proposed between the Pistons and the Jazz that includes Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and the 2024 1st round pick.

Jones quickly makes it clear what it will take to pry Markkanen away from the Jazz.

So, if there was an interest-meter scale from one to 100, this would hardly register a one to the Utah Jazz. The lone pick in the deal comes from a draft where there isn’t a single player that projects to be as good as Markkanen. The two players in the deal are non-shooters and ill fits for Will Hardy’s offense. I love Jalen Duren because we played at the same high school in Philadelphia (obviously not at the same time). He’s a lob threat offensively who doesn’t handle or shoot the ball with range, and we just saw Hardy this season limit the time of Walker Kessler for this reason. But these are reasons this specific trade doesn’t work for the Jazz.

You can dissect this answer in many ways, but it’s clear that the biggest thing the Jazz are looking for in a trade for Markkanen would be good draft picks. Four to Jaden Ivey is an interesting prospect who has underwhelmed a bit in Detroit. Still, there’s potential for him to turn into something more with his athleticism and talent. He’s also young and just barely finished his second season in the league with one of the worst coaches out there.

So, how many draft picks does it take? Jones goes on to say:

In a big picture, Markkanen’s value to the Jazz is so great that it’s going to take an offer that is probably not going to come to pry him from the Jazz. Something like four or five first-round picks, and a star-level talent coming over.

And there it is, four or five draft picks as well as a star-level talent. I’m not sure what star-level talent means exactly. Maybe a player like Jaden Ivey counts if they have star potential? But this does give a baseline for other teams if they want Markkanen. Some teams out there have this level of draft capital and could meet this request, and you can bet the Jazz know it. The Orlando Magic have all the potential in the world but are missing shooting, and it was part of the reason they got bounced in the first round. Could they send an offer to the Jazz that could bring over Lauri Markkanen for something like 4 picks and a young prospect like Anthony Black? Orlando has a Denver Nuggets pick in 2025 that will most likely convey in 2025, and they control their own future picks as well.

Eitehr way, this is the type of team that could make an offer, we’ll see if there’s a team out there willing to make a huge offer for Markkanen this offseason.

Finally, Jones ends with this:

And most importantly, he’s a star-level player who likes being in Utah. The Jazz fully intend to build around him. They intend to sign him to a long-term deal. So, if you are the Pistons, unless Cade Cunningham and four first-round picks is the offer, don’t expect the Jazz to stay on the phone for very long.

It’s clear the Jazz are ready to go into the season and build around Lauri Markkanen. The only thing that makes me suspicious is they said the same thing about Donovan Mitchell two years ago, and we know how that went.

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