Lauri Markkanen is Likely not a Realistic Target for the Hawks
On Friday morning, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports had a big trade rumors report and discussed the idea of the Utah Jazz trading star forward Lauri Markkanen. In the report it was mentioned that it was likely to not happen, but if the price were right, Markkanen could be had:
“Do I expect Utah to trade Lauri? No,” another general manager told Yahoo Sports. “But they are saying they’re willing to listen. They are willing to listen to calls on everyone, but it’s a matter of meeting their price like Minnesota did for Rudy [Gobert].”
Here is what Fischer had to say about the potential of Markkanen being on the trade market and that the Hawks are one of the teams that could show interest. :
"Lauri Markkanen has indeed emerged as a fascinating, albeit unlikely trade candidate before February’s buzzer. The Jazz held designs of further competing in the Western Conference after Markkanen emerged as an All-Star in his first season in Salt Lake City, league sources told Yahoo Sports, as Utah engaged Portland about acquiring Damian Lillard and then Jrue Holiday before this season tipped. Moving on from Markkanen would mark a stark change of direction from trying to add an All-NBA caliber point guard to run Utah’s offense alongside Markkanen’s versatile skill set.
But Markkanen’s status already has and will continue generating significant buzz around the league if Utah continues entertaining rivals’ inquiries. It would be front-office malpractice not to at least understand what it would take to land Markkanen. League personnel believe three teams in particular value the Finnish forward at this preliminary stage of trade conversations. Two of those apparent suitors, Sacramento and Atlanta, make sense, considering the Kings’ and Hawks’ respective approaches for Siakam. The third team league personnel continue mentioning to watch for a potential Markkanen approach is Oklahoma City, suddenly second in the West with a trove of first-round picks."
uuCould the Hawks trade for Lauri Markkanen?
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The Hawks have been mentioned in a ton of trade rumors since the summer, mainly for Raptors forward Pascal Siakam. While I think a trade for Siakam is attainable, I don't see how the Hawks have the trade ammunition for a player like Markkanen.
To compare the two, Siakam is an older player and on an expiring contract. Anyone making a trade for him is getting an older player who will need another contract. Markkanen is a younger, better player than Siakam and is on a longer-term deal. There is going to be a stark price to pay to land Markkanen and the Hawks just don't have it.
The draft compensation is likely going to be high. Danny Ainge always wants to get the most he can out of any deal (like any good GM should) and that is going to drive the price for Markkanen sky high. He is coming off of an All-Star year and has a lot of talent.
The trade for Dejounte Murray depleted the Hawks of most of their future draft equity and that is what I would suspect Utah is after in this deal. They could always use talented young players of course, but they could just continue to add to the stockpile of picks they have from the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades.
The Hawks would likely have to include Jalen Johnson in any trade for Lauri Markkanen
If the Hawks really wanted to get a trade done for Markkanen, I don't see how they could without including Jalen Johnson. Johnson is their most valuable young player and before his wrist injury, he was making a strong case for being the Most Improved Player in the NBA.
Per Cleaning the Glass, Johnson ranks in the 95nd percentile in points per 100 possessions allowed when he is on the floor and the Hawks defense is 8.4 points better. He ranks even better when it comes to effective field goal percentage allowed, ranking in the 96th percentile. The Hawks are a struggling defense even with Johnson, but they are much worse without him and lose a lot of versatility. The Jazz would want him back in a deal and I am not sure if the Hawks would want to do that. I would not include Johnson in a deal for Markkanen.
While I think the Siakam trade is a realistic path for the Hawks, I don't think Markkanen is. I could be wrong, but don't expect to see Markkanen in a Hawks uniform.
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