Trade for Jazz F Lauri Markkanen Would Require ‘Untouchable’ in Return

The Utah Jazz have a high asking price in any potential deals for their All-Star forward.

Continuous trade buzz continues to surround the Utah Jazz ahead of the approaching NBA deadline. With the team sitting close to the .500 mark in a competitive Western Conference, it makes their direction in the coming weeks extremely interesting to watch unfold.

One of the most commonly mentioned names on the team in recent deadline chatter (despite Utah’s potential unwillingness) has been All-Star Lauri Markkanen. Many squads around the league could utilize his offensive skillset and size for their championship aspirations if they were able to get their hands on him.

Despite that interest, it won’t be that easy to pry a talent like Lauri away from Utah.

According to NBA insider Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective, there’s a world Markkanen could get dealt ahead of the deadline, but it would take a very steep package to acquire him:

“I’ve been told [the Utah Jazz] will listen on anyone on the roster…With [Lauri] Markkanen, he’s not untouchable but it’s going to take one of your untouchables to get him”

It tells us that the Jazz values Markkanen as if he were any other franchise cornerstone in the league. Of course, everything has a price, but any trade for Markkanen would almost have to include the farm for Danny Ainge to even consider making the move.

The Jazz will have the ability to re-negotiate Markkanen’s current deal this summer to keep him in Salt Lake City for the long haul. Considering that Lauri is a guy who has voiced his desire to stay in Utah, keeping an All-Star caliber player like him on the roster should be a priority for the front office.

Instead of moving off Markkanen, expect Utah to be fielding calls ahead of the looming deadline for their expiring contracts on the roster to capitalize on their asset pool while maintaining a Play-In caliber roster. 

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