Lauri Markkanen made it very clear this summer during EuroBasket that he is still very much the same player who became one of the Utah Jazz's most unlikely stars in franchise history. However, as good as he is, Markkanen is not a franchise player. For that reason, it's clear as day that the Jazz's most obvious route with him is trading him while his value is high.
The Ringer's Howard Beck delved into this while talking with Michael Pina. In a nutshell, Beck confronted the elephant in the room about Markkanen's long-term place with Utah.
"It's pretty clear this is not a guy you're building your franchise around. He's probably best as somebody's co-star," Beck said. "...He's 28. He's early prime. In the most optimistic scenario, the Utah Jazz are good again in what, three years?... You're three years in now with him and you're even further from competing at a respectable level. It's just time. His best value to the Jazz now is as a trade piece."
Whether you agree with Beck or not, the truth still remains that the Jazz will be among the worst NBA teams (with a solid chance that they will be the worst) no matter what Markkanen does. He may a return to form this season. In fact, he may have his best season ever, and it won't change how bad the Jazz are going to be.
Because of that, the whispers of a potential trade will only grow louder and louder as this season progresses. Again, it would hinge on just how good Markkanen will be, but if he's back to his All-Star level, he will be floated in trade scenarios on a daily basis.
It may be a matter of when, not if
Nothing that Beck says here is inaccurate. It doesn't make much sense for Markkanen, an NBA star who is entering his prime, to be on a team that has only gotten progressively both younger and worse since the team traded for him in 2022.
For now, the last time we checked on Markkanen's trade availability, the Jazz have no intention of trading him. Reading the tea leaves on that intel, this season feels like one where Utah will see how Markkanen plays next to the Jazz's young talent. Because they will stink anyway, they also don't have much to lose by keeping him.
If it becomes clear that either he doesn't fit next to their young talent or that said talent needs a lot of time before it turns into something, that will confirm what Utah has to next with Markkanen.
Don't be surprised if the Jazz to keep Markkanen for the entirety of the 2025-26 season, but don't be surprised if this season is his last in Utah.