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A Lauri Markkanen Trade Idea to Boost a Rising Western Conference Team
Lauri Markkanen was initially among the hottest names of the 2024 NBA offseason, but a long-term extension with the Utah Jazz took him off the market.
Good news for teams interested in a 7-foot sniper who happens to be smack in the middle of his prime: Markkanen is now eligible to be traded.
An All-Star in his first season with Utah, Markkanen has missed time over the last two years and hasn't exactly been on the national radar while toiling for a tanker. Now, with few marquee free agents in play and frontcourt shooting as valuable as ever, the 28-year-old should be a very hot commodity.
And the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that has already pivoted toward the present with the acquisition of veteran Jrue Holiday, should be right in the thick of the Markkanen pursuit.
The Trade
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Portland Trail Blazers Acquire: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Acquire: Scoot Henderson, Jerami Grant
Why the Jazz Do It
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On draft night, the Utah Jazz correctly recognized that their lack of a potential cornerstone meant their multiyear rebuild hadn't even really begun. That logic was why they took a risk and stopped Ace Bailey's slide in the draft at No. 5.
It's also why they should be interested in onboarding Scoot Henderson, another highly regarded prospect who comes with question marks.
Across his first two seasons, Henderson posted true shooting rates 11 percent below the league average while turning the ball over on a sky-high 19.0 percent of his possessions. He's also just 21 years old and coming off averages of 12.7 points, 5.1 assists and an improved 35.4 percent three-point hit rate. Those are exceedingly rare numbers for an age-20 season.
Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier have their appeal, but Henderson would immediately become the Jazz's best young player.
Markkanen, in contrast, is already 28. He'll be nearing the end of his prime—and his current four-year, $195 million deal—just as the Jazz are ready to start seriously competing. Utah has already moved on from Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson this offseason, and Markkanen is the next logical step. Turning him into a much younger, cheaper prospect in Henderson would reorient the roster around a future-focused timeline.
If it is picks the Jazz prefer, there are constructions involving Grant, Robert Williams III and future draft compensation in play. But Henderson is the key here. He's the upside option that justifies moving on from Markkanen and absorbing Grant's onerous long-term deal.
Why The Blazers Do It
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The Jrue Holiday deal wasn't the first time Portland signaled its desire for more immediate gains. Just last summer, the Blazers sent out a pick that became All-Rookie second-teamer Bub Carrington for Deni Avdija.
Markkanen would be a costly acquisition, but he'd fit the Blazers' tendency to move off youth when the right opportunity arises. Beyond that, he'd address Portland's dire need of three-point shooting.
Last season, the Blazers ranked 26th in three-point accuracy. Holiday, who's hit at least 39.2 percent of his treys in three of the last five seasons, should help. Markkanen would offer an even bigger boost, all while complementing paint-bound center Donovan Clingan.
The loss of Henderson would be massive, but Portland certainly wouldn't be upset to see Grant's three years and $103 million come off the books. Markkanen's contract is larger and spans an extra year, but Grant showed clear signs of decline last season and is entering his age-31 season.
Portland's hypothetical top six of Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Avdija, Toumani Camara, Markkanen and Clingan would be balanced and dangerous, an intriguing mix of veteran experience and youthful potential. It might even be good enough to land the Blazers among the West's top six teams, a significant step forward that'd build on last year's 23-18 closing run.
