“Blockbuster” Trade Proposal: Lauri Markkanen, a Jazz Star, Dies.
Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz should be acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder this
summer, according to one NBA analyst.Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes put out the following
“blockbuster” trade proposal involving the Thunder and Jazz:
The Trade: Josh Giddey, Cason Wallace, and three future first-round selections are exchanged for
Lauri Markkanen by the Oklahoma City Thunder from the Utah Jazz.
The Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-
Alexander and many draft selections during their most recent major transaction.
Markkanen, in Hughes’ opinion, would make OKC’s offense “terrifying.”
“Markkanen would add a terrifying dimension to a five-out offense—all while adding significant
size to a squad that got beat up on the boards—dramatically upgrading Giddey’s spot in the first
unit,” Hughes wrote. “As it stands, OKC has experienced roster shortages in the last several
seasons, so cutting some of its choices may be inevitable. It can’t continue bringing on two or three
rookies each year, giving them time to mature, and then prolonging their stay. Under that
“conservative” scenario, all of the financial concerns that everyone is concerned about would also
surface.
One of the top players in the NBA is Markkanen. He shot 48.0% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc, and 89.9% from the free-throw line this season while averaging 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks for the Jazz.
The one-time All-Star will earn $18 million in his contract’s last season next season. With the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Utah Jazz, he has averaged 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks over his career.
The Jazz missed the playoffs for the second straight year, and the Thunder fell to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the second round of the 2024 playoffs.
The Thunder would have a deadly “Big 4” in Gilgeous-Alexander, Markkanen, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren if this hypothetical deal went through.
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