Grade the trade pitch: Jazz send Lauri Markkanen & Walker Kessler for blockbuster package
By Matt John
Utah Jazz big men Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler have seen their names show up on the rumor mill. We won't know what the future holds for either of them, though it sounds like both could be had for the right price.
The Warriors are depserate to salvage what's left of the Stephen Curry era. They've had a good offseason, but all in all, with their current squad, they don't project to win another title. If they could get Markkanen and Kessler, suddenly their chances change for the better.
At the same time, the Jazz are not getting rid of those guys. It's been confirmed that the Jazz have a high bidding price for Kessler, and they're leaning towards keeping Markkanen. While it doesn't seem likely, the Warriors could offer a major package that could snare both of them.
Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley proposed a trade in which the Warriors would give up a massive haul for the Jazz. He proposed the following deal between the two teams:
Warriors receive: Markkanen and Kessler
Jazz receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, 2026 Warriors first-round pick, 2026 Hawks second-round pick, 2028 Warriors first-round pick, 2028 Hawks second-round pick, 2031 Warriors-Jazz pick swap
Buckley went into full detail on why the Warriors would do it but not the Jazz. In their case, the question is, is that trade enough to appease them? If we're being fair, it's a little complicated.
Pro: The Jazz would own the Warriors' future
There's one very strong reason why a young team like the Jazz trades with an old contender reaching the end of its rope: if they give up later picks, those picks are likely going to be golden when Curry and Draymond Green retire.
Having that at their arsenal gives the Jazz so many options regarding where they go with their future. Curry and Green don't have much time left in the NBA period, which, in turn, will give the Jazz plenty of leverage in future trade discussions. Knowing that the Celtics just won the title in part because of Ainge's successful drafting history, the Jazz would open themselves up to a similar future.
Con: There's no telling if any of those players turn out as good as Markkanen or Kessler
The Warriors would offer both young talent and cap flexibility in this trade pitch. However, even though Kuminga is coming off his best season as a pro, this might be as good as he gets. Markkanen is better than him and is entering his prime. Kessler is coming off a sophomore slump, but he's still in his early-20s.
Because Markkanen is a star, and a unique one at that, and Kessler has yet to enter his prime, the Jazz would risk trading established promising talent for players who could potentially be at their level, but there's no guarantee they would.
Pro: The Jazz would signal they are embracing the tank
The 2025 NBA Draft is supposed to be loaded. Headlined by Cooper Flagg and Nolan Traore, this draft is projected to have potential franchise players. The Jazz are already going to be one of the worst teams in the league, but trading Markkanen and Kessler would take them down another peg.
Plenty of teams will tank, but most of them are out East. With Markkanen and Kessler off the team, the Jazz would put their name in the hat. Even if they don't wind up with Flagg or Traore, there's plenty of wrong talent in that draft to develop.
Con: Jonathan Kuminga's free agency would be their problem
Kuminga is already eligible for an extension. His fellow draftees, Franz Wagner and Scottie Barnes, have gotten paid, and after his breakout season, he may not look for the same contract, but he's not going to hold back in discussions. If the Jazz get him, that becomes a problem.
This is not a criticism of Kuminga. He's a good young player with a good future ahead of him. With the progress he's made, he's proven he can be a piece on a title team, but it remains to be seen if he can be the piece on a title team. The Jazz might have a conundrum on their hands paying top dollar for someone who's promising but may not be elite.
Pro: The Jazz could find additional assets for the returning pieces
With the Jazz embracing a rebuild in this proposed trade, they would have no use for Payton and Looney, but other teams would. What also makes them more appealing is their expiring contracts. The Jazz could use that to their advantage in trade discussions.
Payton and Looney are both useful and their champions. Teams trying to win and want help for cheap would love to have them knowing the restrictions the NBA has imposed on everyone. Since the Jazz already have cap room, they could also take bad contracts both for them in exchange for more draft assets.
Con: This deal is missing the player the Jazz would (and should) want
As sweet as this deal is, it doesn't have the one player the Jazz apparently want in a deal. ESPN's Tim MacMahon said that he believes any Jazz-Warriors deal involving Markkanen would have to include Brandin Podziemski because that's who the Jazz want.
Podziemski is coming off an excellent rookie season, though he hasn't necessarily proven himself a star. Yet. At the very least, he could be a solid connector piece for the Jazz's future. And he will enter the second year of his rookie deal, which means he'll be cheap. It makes sense if that's who the Jazz want, and it makes no sense if the Warriors wouldn't include him in the deal if they're serious about Markkanen.
Grade: B+, but if the Warriors add Podziemski in this trade, it's an A