As NBA trade season quickly creeps closer, bottom feeder teams like the Utah Jazz have seen themselves atop the list of team's who are most likely to be active participants in the trade market this year. The thing about the Jazz is that, for the most part, the players they are wanting to deal away are the least interesting pieces on the roster. Players like Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, and Kelly Olynyk will likely be heading to a new home in a few weeks, but names like that don't pay sports journalist's bills. That's why Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz's best player and one of the twenty best players in the league, has been catapulted into headlines as a potential member of the trade block. So are the Jazz actually interested in trading the one-time all-star who saw his career blossom in Utah? And if they are, what kind of massive trade package would Danny Ainge demand in return?
pc: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
First things first, would the Jazz even be willing to trade Markkanen? When it comes to small market teams like Utah it is usually very difficult to pry away a young all-star, especially when that young all-star hit his stride in a Jazz uniform. We saw what it took for Minnesota to get Gobert, and what Cleveland had to send off to get Donovan Mitchell. So the short answer to that question is, probably not. However, the longer answer is: Probably not, unless a team is willing to offer an absolutely gargantuan package featuring young players with high upside and a good amount of picks. This is such a specific need that I think only two or three teams in the league are capable of putting together such a package. So, just for the fun of it, let's look at those teams and what it would take for them to get Markkanen.
Sacramento Kings
I'm going to go in order from the least to the most interesting trade package, which is why I'm starting with Sacramento. I think the Kings would be interested in Markkanen to put them in a better win-now situation, and in return they would send away a few of their younger talents to Utah. The Jazz would command a package that looked something like Keegan Murray, Colby Jones, and three first round picks. The conversation would begin and end at Keegan Murray. The Jazz would need him in that deal to even consider it. I'm not sure the Kings would be willing to do that, and I'm not sure that even if they were the Jazz would accept the offer.
pc: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Indiana Pacers
Here is where we enter the most interesting trade packages. This team and the next one are the team's who I think could put together an offer that the Jazz would have to seriously consider. As far as the Pacers are concerned, Markkanen could work wonders in their high intensity offense. You think Tyrese Haliburton is great now? Imagine him passing to Markkanen instead of Obi Toppin. The package that Utah would be looking for from Indiana would look something like Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and three first round picks. I actually do think the Pacers may be willing to sit that offer on Ainge's desk, and I think Ainge would seriously consider it. I'm not 100% sure the Jazz would do it, but I guarantee you that they wouldn't hang up the phone.
pc: David Zalubowski/AP Photo
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are the only team that I think could afford to put together an offer that the Jazz would HAVE to accept. Obviously it makes sense for the Thunder, Markkanen would immediately make the team a legitimate contender. What makes it truly interesting for OKC is that they have so many assets, they really wouldn't have to give up that much to get him. If they sent in an offer of Josh Giddey, Cason Wallace, Tre Mann, Ousmane Dieng, and three first round picks I think the Jazz have to take it. Maybe Utah squeezes one more pick out of them, but I just can't see a world where Utah doesn't take that deal. None of those guys are untouchable for the Thunder, and they would still be very deep. The Thunder get better and the Jazz get a MASSIVE return for a guy that was a throw in in the Donovan Mitchell trade.
pc: via Oklahoma City Thunder
All in all, I still highly doubt we see Lauri Markkanen get traded this season. For the record, I seriously hope we don't see Markkanen dealt away from Utah. He was given up on in his first two homes, and now that he's an all-star I would hate to see another franchise give up on him. It also seems like he truly loves playing and thriving in Utah, and it is refreshing to see a star player want to play his prime years in a Jazz jersey.
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