5 Lauri Markkanen trades that the Jazz cannot refuse

3. Pacers give Tyrese Haliburton a running mate

Indiana made the finals of the In-Season Tournament and is looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Tyrese Haliburton is becoming a superstar, but the Pacers need more talent around him to become legitimate title contenders.

Indiana will never be a free-agent destination, despite convincing Bruce Brown to join them this summer. The Pacers need to build through trades and the draft. With the team rising, their only chance at getting Haliburton a co-star is making a blockbuster deal. Indiana needs draft capital, but they might be willing to offer this.

Hield becomes a free agent in the summer of 2024 and wants more money than the Jazz would be willing to offer. He is just an expiring contract for the purpose of this trade. Utah gets two firsts plus two swaps in exchange for Markkanen. It is a hefty price, but the only way the Pacers are landing a 26-year-old All-Star.

How would Markkanen fit next to Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner? He could play the four and space the floor. The Pacers may have to slow their league-leading pace a bit, but head coach Rick Carlisle is one of the best offensive minds in the game. He would make it work. Defense is another conversation, but Indiana fills their hole at the four with one of the league’s best.