Jazz reporter boldly predicts when they will trade Lauri Markkanen

There's been much ado about the prospect of the Utah Jazz trading Lauri Markkanen recently. There have been conflicting reports about whether the Jazz even want to do that to begin with. Well, one of the Jazz's most dependable beat reporters, Andy Larsen, bodly predicted that, yes, the Jazz will trade him, while specifying two dates in which the trade would occur.

While speaking with The Athletic's Zeita Kelly, Larsen expressed his belief that Markkanen will be traded, adding that a trade will occur either at the trade deadline this coming February or during the upcoming offseason.

Larsen also made it clear that trading Markkanen wouldn't be so easy, given how much he has come to embrace Utah and that he's too good a player to toil away on a non-playoff team like the Jazz. He also made it clear that Utah won't just let him go and that they don't have to if they don't receive a good enough offer.

What factors could influence a Markkanen trade

Larsen's hypothetical timelines would indicate that the Jazz would give it some time to see how Markkanen fits with the Jazz's young roster first and foremost. However, if it becomes clear that his prime of being a win-now star on a team full of win-later players does not mesh, that would be enough to give Utah the green light to trade him.

That's not the only factor. As the season goes on, teams that want to make their mark will want to land a big fish to aid in a potentially potent playoff run. Markkanen is not a franchise player, but he's an All-Star who brings a unique set of qualities to a playoff team. Should he look like his old self, teams will not only pay up to get him, but may feel even more desperation to do so.

Teams shouldn't let the fact that Markkanen doesn't have any playoff experience to his name fool them into thinking that reflects on his impact as a basketball player, because anyone who has watched his ascension knows that it doesn't.

Sure, Markkanen had more value back when he was underpaid for what his services, but he is a better investment than most players in the NBA. Maybe the reason why Markkanen could be traded in the summer of 2026 is because he is coming off a pretty lackluster year and interested suitors may want confirmation that his performance was the exception to the norm from him.

That's why the biggest factor on when a Markkanen trade happens is if he proves he can still play at an All-Star level. If he does that soon enough, a trade may happen soon enough.