It's amazing how much changes in a year. Exactly one year ago, there weren't that many NBA players whose trade value was as high as Lauri Markkanen's. That's primarily because he was being paid much less than he was worth. One year later, it's not so much that his value has dropped as that it's unclear what his value is anymore.
Markkanen is coming off a pretty porous junior year in Utah, averaging below 20 points for the first time since his lone year in Cleveland. Not only that, but he shot a career-worst 42.3% from the field and 34.6% from three.
Those are noticeable dips from his first two years with the Jazz. There's been no intel indicating Markkanen is going anywhere, and he's continued to voice his loyalty to Utah. Still, even if they go the trade route, those numbers are highly discouraging given what Markkanen will be paid for the next four years.
But this is the same Lauri Markkanen who won Most Improved Player, made his first All-Star game, and led the Jazz to an unlikely 36-win season all in his first season as a Jazzman only two years ago, and he's just entering his prime. Even if Utah may regret how that season went, Markkanen at full throttle proved how good he can be.
A team interested in Markkanen this summer would believe he's still that same player. A team that's not interested would hold his most recent season against him.
Take one of the more speculated deals in recent weeks following the disaster that was the 2025 NBA Lottery between the Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers. There has been plenty of speculation that the Jazz and Sixers could agree to a deal involving Markkanen and Paul George in which they could swap picks in the process.
Ask any Jazz fan about trading Markkanen and the No. 5 pick for George and the No. 3 pick, and they'll say that's an overpay. At the same time, any Sixers fan will say that trading only Markkanen for George and the No. 3 pick isn't enough. The irony is that a deal would be much more plausible if the draft order were reversed between the Jazz and Sixers.
But we digress. The point is that because Markkanen is coming off a disappointing season, teams don't want to invest in someone based on what he was, but more on what he has recently shown. Another factor that makes it harder to decide how tradable the Finnisher is.
The league's new CBA rules makes a Markkanen trade tougher
This offseason is expected to be frenetic, and don't be surprised if Utah is at the center of it. That doesn't have anything to do with the potential of trading Markkanen. Teams want cap relief, and the Jazz can give it to them.
Because teams want to save money, adding a player like Markkanen doesn't make much sense as he's about to start a massive four-year extension worth almost $196 million. His talent at his peak is undeniable, but his most recent season will scare off interested suitors. It would be a gamble to trade for him.
This is also a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. If the Jazz trade Markkanen, fans will wonder why they didn't do that last year when his value was so much higher. If they keep him, fans will wonder why he's still on a rebuilding team. It all points to the fact that there's no clear answer as to how to resolve the situation.