Trade No. 2
I hate this trade and everything that comes with it. Mostly just because of who the Jazz are giving up. In this two-team swap, the Utah Jazz are shipping Lauri Markkanen to the Miami Heat for Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson, and two first-round picks. One in 2026 with a first-overall protection and the other in 2028 with a top-three protection.
"Heat get: Lauri Markkanen Jazz get: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson, first-round picks in 2024 & 2028"
How does the Jazz get better here? The Heat would likely be playoff contenders next season, so that means that pick will fall in the 20s, and you’re not getting a franchise guy in the 20s (usually). Jaquez is a great hustle guy, but does anyone think he’s turning into an All-Star? If you’re giving up Markkanen, you better be getting back a player of his potential. Then there’s Duncan Robinson, a good role player, but see Jaquez for why it’s a bad move.
Markkanen is the face of the Utah Jazz and a guy the team seemingly really likes, and he seemingly likes the Jazz too. Keeping Markkanen and trying to compete for a playoff spot should be the key going forward, and if a deal came for Markkanen, it better be far better than this paltry offering.