Blockbuster NBA Trade Idea Sends Jazz's Lauri Markkanen to Lakers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 4, 2025 2:15 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers were projected to compete for the 2025 championship after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February.

Pundits thought Doncic and LeBron James could lead the Lakers to the promised land this year, especially since the Lakers were the third seed in the West.

However, Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games. James and the Lakers haven't returned to the NBA Finals since winning it all in 2020.

After trading Anthony Davis to the Mavericks for Doncic, the Lakers need a big man and one NBA analyst believes the team should trade for Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Lakers trade Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and a 2031 first-round pick (unprotected) to the Jazz for Markkanen.

"Markkanen is probably the best level of player Los Angeles can reasonably acquire and would be a strong third option behind Doncic and James," Swartz wrote. "Adding a 7-footer who can play either forward position and fill short bursts as a stretch-5 gives the Lakers a ton of versatility with their lineups and helps an offense that ranked 12th out of 16 teams this postseason.

"This trade would leave the Lakers with a core of Doncic, Austin Reaves, Markkanen, James, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt."

Markkanen appeared in 47 games for the Jazz this season. He averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field, 34.6% from beyond the arc and 87.6% from the free-throw line.

A one-time All-Star, Markkanen will make $46.4 million next season. The 2023 Most Improved Player of the Year signed a four-year, $195 million extension with the Jazz in August 2024. It was a renegotiation-and-extend deal.

Markkanen, who has played for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz, has career averages of 18.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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