Blockbuster Desmond Bane trade is why Jazz will definitely be patient with Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen's name has shown up in trade rumors a lot lately. The rumors primarily stem from the notion that he doesn't fit the Utah Jazz's timeline. While that is valid, the common misunderstanding about him being on the market is that the Jazz will dump him. The Desmond Bane trade serves as proof that Utah should not and will not sell low on Markkanen, no matter what.

The Memphis Grizzlies certainly raised some eyebrows on Father's Day when it was announced that they traded him to the Orlando Magic for a glut of draft assets.

For the Magic, they get another badly needed source of offense, while for the Grizzlies, it gives them options for where they go next. For the Jazz, Bane getting the return he did shows what kind of haul the Jazz should demand in return for Markkanen.

Bane sets the price for Markkanen

Bane technically has never made an All-Star team, but he is a 20-point scorer, still relatively young, will be paid almost as much as Markkanen for the next few years, and would help an aspiring contender. It's fair to suggest that the Grizzlies got the most value they could out of him. The Jazz have no reason to think they can't get the same value out of Markkanen.

One could argue that Bane and Markkanen are the same caliber of player, or at the very least, that one is only slightly better than the other. Nonetheless, they are both excellent players that playoff teams should feel comfortable giving up a massive package for them.

The Magic certainly felt that way when they got him, and that's how any Markkanen suitor should feel if they inquire about the Jazz star. The package wasn't too far off from the packages the Jazz got for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, which confirms that Markkanen could fetch the same.

Most importantly, the Bane trade happening before the Kevin Durant trade helps the Jazz 's leverage. Durant is better than both players, even at this stage of his career, but there's a solid chance the Phoenix Suns won't get nearly the value a player of his caliber typically.

That could have been a concern for the Jazz as competitors could potentially use that as leverage in trade negotiations. Luckily, the Jazz can use the Bane trade to let competitors know that they won't budge from that kind of trade return.

It's been confirmed that Markkanen is available, but only if any trade partner is willing to give up a massive package to do so. Beforehand, the Jazz didn't have a recent example to compare with what they would want for Markkanen.

Thanks to the Bane trade, they do now.