Lauri Markkanen may very well be on the rumor mill more than any NBA player this season. The Utah Jazz have gone on the record saying that he's not going anywhere, but that will not stop the rampant speculation. If that's not enough, it's now been confirmed that the Jazz are actually very open to trading Markkanen.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix revealed that Markkanen is among the names to watch at the trade deadline while adding that the Jazz are very much open to trading him.
"Lauri Markkanen is the name I hear most frequently. Utah passed on an offer from Golden State for Markkanen in the summer of 2024, believing a stronger market would materialize. It didn’t, and right now there is a belief that the Jazz are very open for business on their 28-year-old ex-All-Star," Mannix wrote.
So while Utah's front office says he's staying with the team, there's now some legitimate buzz that a trade could happen. It's a shame because Markkanen's story with Utah is pretty amazing as his story as a late bloomer made him an unlikely star during a time when no one thought he would become one.
But, taking the role of Captain MOTO, it makes sense if that's the route they take. He simply doesn't fit with their timeline, he's better off playing for a playoff team, and the more games he plays for them, the more his prime is wasted as a Jazzman.
But would they cut ties sooner rather than later?
Regardless of what happens with Markkanen, the Jazz will be one of the NBA's worst teams. The question will be what his value could be to teams this year. Back in 2024, it was much higher primarily because he was grossly underpaid for his production, but that's no longer a factor after Utah gave him the biggest payday of his career.
Many anticipate that Markkanen will have a resurgence this season, following his impressive performance for Finland during the EuroBasket tournament. If that turns out to be the case, that opens the door for Utah to capitalize on his value.
The Jazz must ask themselves how long they are willing to wait it out and how much will they ask for him? Danny Ainge has a reputation for being a stickler and a hustler, so fans better believe he's not going to give someone as good as Markkanen away for peanuts.
Yes, he and Utah's front office gave away Collin Sexton and John Collins for that little this summer, but they are different caliber players compared to Markkanen.
The Jazz will get a clearer picture as this season, and not just of how Markkanen will play, but who will become more desperate to add someone like him.