Utah Jazz fans have heard it all about a potential Lauri Markkanen trade. Every time the notion gets brought up, the insiders all say the same thing: Utah intends to build around him. Well, as it turns out, a Markkanen trade is possible, but the only way it would happen would be if a suitor paid through the roof to get it.
ESPN's Tim MacMahon confirmed this during the organization's NBA Power Rankings. The Jazz came in at No. 25, where MacMahon revealed what it would take to get a Markkanen trade.
"The question asked most often about the Jazz around the league is whether Lauri Markkanen, who is averaging a career-best 27.7 points per game, could be moved in a blockbuster trade. It's not impossible, but the asking price remains extremely high. Markkanen, 28, continues to be a major part of future plans for the Jazz, who hope to make a jump to playoff contention next season," MacMahon wrote.
So, basically, if anyone wants Markkanen, they can have him if they're willing to offer what the Jazz want. This is more or less reconfirming that while not untouchable, Markkanen can only be had if it ensures the Jazz's long-term future. It's why guys like Amen Thompson have been mentioned in potential Markkanen swaps.
Is it ridiculous to insinuate the Pistons would actually do that? Of course it is, but that's what it's going to take. Reports like these only confirm that the Jazz would prefer taking Markkanen and will only trade him if they believe the package they're getting for him puts them in a better position.
That outlines what a Markkanen trade would look like
Any hypothetical Markkanen trade where the Jazz get the most draft assets possible wouldn't happen because that kind of deal insinuates that the Jazz want to start over. They already have done that, so there's no need to add more assets to a team that pretty much already has stockpiled them.
It's why it's more likely that the Jazz would take back either a golden asset(s) and/or a player who has the ceiling of becoming the face of a franchise, like Thompson. They have no incentive to settle in a Markkanen trade as he's not getting in the way of their plans.
There are teams who could certainly meet Utah's demands, but it would be shocking if they were 100% comfortable with what they would have to give up. Reports like these may confirm that Markkanen can be had, but they also confirm that it's more likely than not that he's staying a Jazzman indefinitely.