There's been so much Utah Jazz hoopla lately that it's getting hard to keep track of all of it. The Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, combined with all the tank talk, has dominated the headlines that we're actually forgetting something: the Jazz have finally assembled the playoff team Lauri Markkanen has been asking for.
Markkanen has been a good soldier in Utah since his breakout with the team three years ago. He has voiced his loyalty to Utah and has stuck by them even after it was clear their plans were primarily to get worse.
Many have wondered what Markkanen's breaking point would be, as there had been endless trade rumors involving him, since it would make sense for Utah to trade him during a rebuild. But he never requested a trade and Utah made it clear that they didn't want to trade him.
And now it's brought them here. After two years of not firmly picking a direction, then spending the past season-and-a-half trying to lose as many games as possible, the Jazz have a squad again. Many are titillated by the prospect of seeing what the Jazz will look like next season, and given how young a lot of their players still are, Utah has the chance to not only be good but get better from here.
This is Markkanen's patience finally paying off, and now he'll get the chance to not only help them make a playoff push but also prove that he's a Jazz all-timer.
Sadly, Markkanen will have to wait just a little longer to do this
Utah has finally laid all the groundwork for what should be their best season in years in 2027. Unfortunately, with the Jazz's current situation, they will likely still tank their current season away for the next few months.
So, that means more losing, while it also means Markkanen will have some new "injuries" that will keep him out for multiple stretches. Even so, he sought to prove he's an All-Star-caliber player this season, and has done just that, warts and all.
It's hard to see how anyone couldn't be happy for the Jazz star after everything that's gone down. He's gone from the guy who basically foiled Utah's initial attempt to tank to the guy who sacrificed to help Utah's tank to the guy who could be the leader of their glorious future in the 2020s.
Markkanen thrived once he got the proper chance to prove himself, and next season, he'll get the chance to prove how far his abilities can take a playoff team now that there should be nothing that will hold him back. Even if it's been long past time for him to get that chance, better late than never.