It seems every day a new Lauri Markkanen rumor or report surfaces with different information on his trade situation. Some want him to stay around as a building block for the future, but others want to get the most young talent out of his trade value as the Utah Jazz can get.
As a counter-argument to last week's article to keep Markkanen, here are the reason's the Jazz should offload him now.
Cooper Flagg Exists
If you don't know who Cooper Flagg is, you need to be familiar, because he will be the number 1 overall pick next season. The attached video was from Team USA's Olympic boot camp in Las Vegas, and he styled on America's best, and he hasn't even started his freshman year of college.
The Jazz own three draft picks next year, as long as the lottery keeps them in the top 10. While the Timberwolves' and Cavaliers' picks will likely not yield lottery picks, the Jazz have their own protected 1st rounder and will likely be trying to lose as many games as possible this season to earn that first overall pick. Having Markkanen will win the Jazz games this season they would have lost without him.
His Value is an All-Time High
Markkanen's assumed value of multiple first-round draft picks plus a young asset or two is incredible value for a player who was an afterthought in the Donovan Mitchell trade. There is no guarantee Lauri will remain at that value if the Jazz re-sign him, and they won't get anything for him if they let his contract expire at the end of this season.
If Danny Ainge doesn't want Lauri in the long-term future of the franchise, this is his opportunity to get a big haul for him, essentially substantially increasing the value of the Donovan Mitchell trade. That statement would have landed you in an asylum two years ago.
The Jazz Aren't Ready to Win Now
As currently constructed, and with no major free agency moves, the Jazz have made it clear they have no intention to build around Markkanen or try to win games now. Allowing Markkanen to win games and then walk at the end of the season does your team zero favors in the long-term, so offloading him either now or at the trade deadline makes the most sense if they don't want to re-sign him.
If the Jazz wanted Markkanen to be part of their core, he would have already signed a contract extension. If the Jazz truly want to get the best lottery odds in the 2025 draft, they need to move Lauri before the season begins.