The more the Utah Jazz lose, while Lauri Markkanen looks consistently impressive, the stronger the buzz will get about a potential trade. The Jazz aren't there yet, but there's no telling if things will change. If they do, the Jazz must prepare themselves for the fact that if they trade him, any trade partner they negotiate with will likely view him as the final piece of their title puzzle, thereby diminishing the value of any draft assets they receive in return.
This is best exemplified by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes proposing a swap between the Jazz and Detroit Pistons in which the following would happen.
Pistons get: Markkanen
Jazz get: Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II, Pistons 2028 first-round pick (top-3 protected), Pistons 2030 first-round pick (top-3 protected)
Hughes explained why the Jazz would be intrigued by Ivey and Holland's potential on the roster.
"Keyonte George appears to have taken a step forward this season and may actually be the Jazz's point guard of the future. Ivey would make perfect sense as his backcourt counterpart, as Utah doesn't have much in the way of prospects at the 2.
"Holland might have an even higher ceiling than Ivey if he can figure out how to pair a reliable shot with predatory on-ball defense and hustle. His tenacity would enable him to play some small forward, and there'd be minutes available with Markkanen gone," Hughes wrote.
It's not a terrible deal by any means, and this isn't the first time Detroit has been floated as a Markkanen destination. However, look at where the Pistons are right now. They are 8-2, currently good for first in the Eastern Conference, and their young talent, like Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson, has only continued to blossom.
And they would be adding Lauri Markkanen. His addition would cement the Pistons as a contender for years to come. In so doing, those two picks they would owe the Jazz from this proposed swap would be next to worthless, no matter the protections.
But that would be a problem no matter who the Jazz trade Markkanen to
If Markkanen goes on the market, and no one knows if that will even happen, Utah should be aware that any draft assets they would receive in return from any interested suitor are likely to be of little value. NBA teams have been more than content to sell off their entire farm of draft assets for a star. Just look at what Utah got for Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
However, adding them makes the draft capital the Jazz got from the Cavaliers and Timberwolves look pretty weak since trading for them vaulted them to the top of the conference, and they will likely stay there for some time. There's no reason to believe the same wouldn't happen with Markkanen.
Sure, the Jazz have come away with Markkanen and Kessler from those trades, but it hasn't translated into results. It's not their fault that it hasn't, but it shows that these swaps have yet to yield a reward for the Jazz over three years later. If Utah decides that it's time to trade Markkanen, they should do everything in their power to prevent history from repeating itself with Gobert and Mitchell.
The sad reality is, it may not be avoidable.