Bizarre Bleacher Report Trade Has Jazz Sending Lauri Markkanen to Heat
When we reach this point of the long NBA offseason, we tend to see some takes and opinions around the community that tend to get slightly out of hand. Given that there’s no basketball scheduled for close to three months, media and fans tend to get a bit bored, creating some outlandish predictions and ideas.
This recent trade idea from Bleacher Report is just that: outlandish.
While I’m all for thinking outside the box and embracing creativity, this is too far. Instead of the Miami Heat deciding to make the obvious and expected move for Damian Lillard, B/R has another idea in mind, and it’s not pretty.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposes a trade where the Heat send a package of Jaime Jaquez, Duncan Robinson, and two protected first-round picks to the Utah Jazz in return for Lauri Markkanen.
Let’s start with the positives of this deal. The Jazz essentially get back three more first-rounders in an already eye-catching stockpile of picks, along with one of the league’s better shooters in Duncan Robinson. I guess Jaquez has also looked like he’ll be a pretty solid player one day. That’s about all there is to like.
Markkanen will only be 26 years old entering the 2023-24 season. He’ll be coming off of a season winning the league’s Most Improved Player award, securing a spot as a starter in the All-Star game. He’s a 7-foot small forward that can efficiently score at all three levels (49/39/87), averaging over 25 points per game, accompanied by 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Selling off on that type of potential in exchange for two late lottery picks (at best) would be an incredibly poor decision.
We likely haven’t even seen the best from Lauri yet. With such an inspiring campaign in just his first season with Utah, there’s a chance there is even more development underway from him.
Could he start averaging over 20 points and ten boards consistently? Can he soon be a member of the 50/40/90 club? Any chance he starts creating his shot more effectively? Could he use his length and versatility to improve as a defender?
All attainable goals could be in play as early as next season. That is not a player you should be looking to shop; it is a player you could build around. Especially being on such a bargain of a contract for the upcoming two seasons, keeping Markkanen on should be a priority.
Thankfully, Jazz fans can take a deep breath as Utah has shown no indications of moving off The Finnisher. Looking to build off his Most Improved Player win last season, Markkanen will have his sights on leading this team to the postseason just two years removed from their drastic retool.
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