NBA Trade Packages and Landing Spots for Lauri Markkanen If Utah Jazz Deal Star
Lauri Markkanen could be one of the top names on the NBA trade market this summer, as the 28-year-old no longer fits a Utah Jazz team that just finished with the worst record in the league (17-65) this past season.
Unfortunately, the Jazz probably waited a year too long to trade Markkanen, as his numbers dropped this past season after beginning a raise and extension that will now pay the 7-footer $195 million over the next four years.
Playing for a contender with an established point guard would likely help Markkanen get back to posting the kind of numbers he did as an All-Star in 2023 (25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 39.1 percent from three), however. He should be entering the prime of his career and projects as a No. 2 or 3 option on a title-contending team.
The following five teams need a versatile forward who can either help get them into the playoffs or push them closer to being a title contender and can offer a trade package rich enough with draft picks and/or prospects for the Jazz to say yes to as well.
Denver Nuggets
1 of 5
Denver Nuggets Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Charlotte Hornets Receive: F Michael Porter Jr.
Utah Jazz Receive: G/F Josh Green, PF Grant Williams, F Josh Okogie, F/C Zeke Nnaji, 2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected via Miami Heat, from Charlotte Hornets), 2032 first-round pick (unprotected via Denver Nuggets)
Why Denver Does It:
The Nuggets should be desperate to add a third star next to Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray while also not sacrificing the team's depth. Denver upgrades the starting small forward position by swapping out Porter for Markkanen and gets what's become a mistake of a contract off the books by moving Nnaji to Utah all for the cost of a future first-round pick.
A new starting five of Murray, Christian Braun, Markkanen, Aaron Gordon and Jokić is definitely title-worthy and becomes bigger with more shot creation on the perimeter.
If Jokić can forgive Markkanen for this, he should be thrilled to add another All-Star to the Nuggets' core.
Why Charlotte Does It:
This Hornets scoring attack desperately needs more juice after ranking 29th in offense and 28th in three-point shooting this past season.
Porter gives this team another weapon on the wing next to Brandon Miller for LaMelo Ball to deliver the ball to, as the 26-year-old averaged 18.2 points and made 39.5 percent of his threes this past season.
Why Utah Does It:
The Jazz get a pair of first-round picks in the deal, including one from the Nuggets the year Jokić will turn 37.
Green, 25, immediately becomes a rotation player for Utah with his outside shooting while Williams and Okogie can be flipped to contenders at a later date.
Detroit Pistons
2 of 5
Detroit Pistons Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: PF Tobias Harris, G Marcus Sasser, F Simone Fontecchio, 2026 first-round pick (unprotected), 2028 first-round pick (top-five-protected)
Why Detroit Does It:
The Pistons need some more offensive firepower to go deeper into the playoffs. After Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris was the team's leading postseason scorer at just 15.7 points per game.
Pairing a star point guard (Cunningham) with a star power forward (Markkanen) while filling the rest roster out with depth (Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland II), defense (Ausar Thompson) and toughness (Isaiah Stewart) is the same blueprint the Indiana Pacers have used this season to get to the NBA Finals.
After the Minnesota Timberwolves use the Pistons' first-round pick in the 2025 draft, Detroit will have full control of all of its future first-round selections moving forward. Sending a pick-heavy offer to Utah for Markkanen allows this team to keep its depth, especially if Malik Beasley re-signs.
Why Utah Does It:
Utah gets two first-round picks and a ton of expiring salary from Detroit here and can shop Harris and Fontecchio to contenders this summer or at the trade deadline.
If the Jazz keep both, they'll open up $40.9 million in cap space next offseason while collecting the Pistons' unprotected pick in the 2026 draft. This essentially means one more year of rebuilding before having some serious assets to go star chasing in free agency or via trade.
Los Angeles Lakers
3 of 5
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: F Rui Hachimura, G/F Dalton Knecht, PG Gabe Vincent, F Maxi Kleber, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
Why Los Angeles Does It:
The Lakers will always be on the hunt for stars yet are limited in trade assets after acquiring Luka Dončić at the deadline. Markkanen is probably the best level of player Los Angeles can reasonably acquire and would be a strong third option behind Dončić and LeBron James.
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 Dončić, Austin Reaves, Markkanen, James, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt. Los Angeles would still have the taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.7 million to try to sign a veteran like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, Steven Adams or Al Horford to fill their hole at center and complete a loaded starting five.
Why Utah Does It:
A future unprotected pick from the Lakers in 2031 when James has (probably??) retired is valuable. Adding Knecht as a young core piece to a team that finished 22nd overall in three-point shooting is attractive as well.
Hachimura (13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 41.3 percent shooting from three) has value and would likely be flipped to a contender, and the Jazz should be happy to add Vincent's championship experience to a young point guard rotation that features Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier.
Miami Heat
4 of 5
Miami Heat Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive Receive: F Nikola Jović, G Terry Rozier, F Duncan Robinson, 2025 first-round pick (No. 20 overall via Golden State Warriors), 2030 first-round pick (top-five-protected)
Why Miami Does It:
Trading Jimmy Butler left this roster desperate for another big-time scorer, something Markkanen proved he could be during the last three years in Utah.
We could see a huge front line in Miami with Markkanen, Kel'el Ware and Bam Adebayo, giving this roster a good mixture of outside shooting and defensive versatility.
After averaging just 95.5 points per game in a first-round sweep, the Heat need an offensive boost that Markkanen would provide.
Why Utah Does It:
Miami can offer an intriguing package of expiring salary, draft picks and young players, all areas the Jazz should have interest in.
This trade would save Utah $46.1 million in salary in the summer of 2026 before factoring in a new contract for Jović, who will be a restricted free agent. Playing the 21-year-old in a bigger role could help unlock some of his playmaking and three-level-scoring promise.
The Jazz add their third first-round pick of the 2025 draft with the 20th overall selection and could try to combine it with their own 21st overall pick in an attempt to move up. They also get a lightly protected future first-round pick from Miami.
San Antonio Spurs
5 of 5
San Antonio Spurs Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: F Jeremy Sochan, F Keldon Johnson, F Harrison Barnes, 2025 first-round pick (No. 14 overall)
Why San Antonio Does It:
Markkanen's contract may scare the Spurs off from being bidders here, especially with De'Aaron Fox due for a big extension next summer. With Victor Wembanyama under his rookie deal for two more seasons and Stephon Castle with three, now may be the time to be aggressive on the trade market, however.
A starting five of Fox, Castle, Devin Vassell, Markkanen and Wembanyama would be a lock to make the Western Conference playoffs, something San Antonio is going to feel an immense amount of pressure to do now with Wemby entering Year 3.
This price is easily doable for the Spurs, especially with Sochan and Johnson now in reserve roles and Barnes entering the final year of his contract. San Antonio would still have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft to add to this core as well.
Why Utah Does It:
Sochan, 22, averaged 13.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 52.1 percent shooting as a starter last season and has tremendous defensive potential. He'd become a core piece in Utah immediately and still has another year left on his rookie contract.
Johnson, 25, averaged 22.0 points per game the last time he was a full-time starter in 2022-23, and Barnes could be flipped to a contender for additional assets.
Utah adds a second lottery pick and would now select at Nos. 5, 14 and 21 overall in the first round.
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