Former Cavalier Wins NBA's 2023 Most Improved Player Of The Year

Lauri Markkanen win the 2023 NBA Most Improved Player Award with the Utah Jazz after being traded there by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tommy Wild | Apr 24, 2023

Former Cavalier Wins NBA's 2023 Most Improved Player Of The Year /

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The Cleveland Cavaliers may have let one get away.

Lauri Markkanen won NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year in his first season with the Utah Jazz after being traded there by Cleveland right before the season started.

The Cavs acquired Markkanen from the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade that also saw home-town hero Larry Nance Jr. get sent out. Cleveland quickly signed the former Bull to a contract extension. It appeared that Markkanen was going to be a main piece of Cleveland's rebuild.

J.B. Bickerstaff made some noise when he decided to start the 2017 draft pick at the wing instead of as a power forward. The experiment worked out beautifully for both the Cavs and Lauri who immediately started to have a career resurgence.

Markkanen's time in Cleveland didn't last long as they sold high and included him in the package they sent to Utah in exchange for Donovan Mitchell in a blockbuster trade before the start of the 2022-23 season.

Lauri blossomed in Utah and was the focal point of their rebuilding offense. He averaged 25.6 points per game, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 39 percent from behind the arc.

Despite where Cleveland sits in the Playoffs at this moment, the trade turned out to be a win-win for both teams. Cleveland got their All-Star player and the Jazz got a piece to build around.

Markkanen is more than deserving of this award. He went from being a nice role piece to a number-one option in one season and has given the Jazz hope for a quick rebuild.

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