Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Jazz 'Very Open' to Trading $195 Million Star Forward During 2025-26 NBA Season: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Nathaniel Holloway | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 1:28 PM ET

It was a rough season for the Utah Jazz last season as they finished with a 17-65 record, which was the worst in the NBA.

Of course, Utah has been stuck in a rebuild over the past handful of seasons and they will now enter the 2025-26 NBA season looking to take a step forward and put last year’s struggles behind them.

The Jazz have built a solid core led by Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler and they also made some key additions to their roster this offseason.

Ace Bailey stands with NBA commissioner Adam SilverBrad Penner-Imagn Images

In the 2025 draft, Utah selected Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. in the first round and John Tonje in the second round to add more young talent to their roster.

They also acquired Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson from the Miami Heat in the three-team trade that sent John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers and they also added Georges Niang and Jusuf Nurkic in separate deals.

With these moves, the Jazz are hoping to take another step forward in their rebuild this season, though they are expected to be near the bottom of the NBA standings once again this season.

Jazz Could Make Major Changes to Their Roster This Season

Because of this, the Jazz have also had multiple players in trade rumors as they enter the new season, including both Markkanen and Kessler.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots the ball against Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) and forward Lauri Markkanen (23)Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

Of course, both players were in trade rumors for most of last season and with Utah possibly looking to add more young talent and draft capital to help with their rebuild, they may elect to move them this season.

Jazz 'Very Open' to Trading Lauri Markkanen

On Wednesday, Sports Ilustrated’s Chris Mannix reported that the Jazz are “very open” to trading Markkanen this season.

The Utah Jazz are ‘very open’ to trading Lauri Markkanen, per @SIChrisMannix pic.twitter.com/XF4m3kl7y5
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 8, 2025

This is massive news by Mannix, but not overly surprising as the star forward has been in trade rumors over the last few seasons.

For Markkanen, he is a great scorer, rebounder and defender who could draw interest from many teams around the NBA.

The main teams he has been linked to are the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons, though other franchises could also show interest in the veteran forward.

Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen© Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

Last season, the 28-year-old star averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and 34.6% from three in only 47 games due to injuries.

While Markkanen could draw interest from multiple teams around the NBA, the Jazz’s high asking price for him and his injury history could cause some teams to hold off on making a deal for him.

If that is the case, Utah may have to lower their asking price in a potential trade, but it seems as though the star forward’s career with the Jazz could come to an end at some point this season.

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

More must-reads: