Lauri Markkanen has emerged as arguably the best trade target on the market right now after the Jazz's poor start to the season and Markkanen continuing to produce at a high level. But Danny Ainge is looking to part with his 2023 All-Star for cheap, with Kevin O'Connor reporting that teams expect Utah to ask for five first-round picks, comparable to the value they traded Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
"My impression from talking to teams is that it’s something resembling the haul the Jazz received for Mitchell and Gobert: so, five-ish firsts and/or players of comparable value. This is a lot for Markkanen in the sense that he doesn’t have postseason scoring success like Mitchell, or three Defensive Player of the Year trophies like Gobert. As good as Lauri is, he’s made an All-Star team only once and thrived at this level in only one system."
If the Jazz can receive a haul like that for Markkanen, it further adds to the value they got in the Mitchell trade given Markkanen was one of the pieces the Cavaliers sent the Jazz. It would arguably be the biggest return in an overall trade that we have seen in a very long time.
It''s unlikely that any team in the NBA is forking out five picks over Markkanen, especially after the recent tempering of draft pick value in trades. We haven't seen many firsts moved since the winter of 2023, with even a Damian Lillard trade seeing a lot of first-round pick swaps and not matching that value.
None of the contenders that would want Markkanen can even match that price with their assets, so it's hard to see how Utah matches their asking price. Unless one team joins the mix.
The Utah Jazz Are Posturing For The Market
We have seen rumored 'trade expectations' come out for players all the time, and it often doesn't match what the team is willing to accept. We saw that with the Hawks trying to move John Collins for picks for years before sending him to the Jazz for virtually nothing. Markkanen has great value, but this is likely something Utah has fed the market to act like that's their price. It's not realistic to think they can get such a hefty package.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the only team that could do this, as they would retain 10 first-round picks even if they moved five. They can move four picks that don't belong to them with two Rockets picks, one Nuggets pick, one Jazz pick, and one Clippers pick if they wish. However, Sam Presti will not overpay for a player by that much just because he can. They are in a strong position to outbid anyone else, but they will not be foolish with their capital in doing so.
Our proposed mock trade for Markkanen between the Jazz and the Thunder saw OKC give up four first-round picks, all of which will be conveyed by 2027. It limits the long-term pain this move could cause while making Utah even more asset-rich. But that's four picks with Josh Giddey and an expiring salary like Davis Bertans.
Contenders like the 76ers and the Heat could also get involved, but nobody has the assets Utah claims to want outside OKC. That report seems directed at them and it will be fascinating to see what they end up doing.
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