Besides the ongoing Giannis Antetokounmpo drama in Milwaukee, many are keeping an eye on the impending fallout between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. There's growing speculation that LeBron and the Lakers are on the outs, which definitely concerns the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers must decide whether it's better to address this problem now or risk being burned this offseason. Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz proposed a three-way deal that would satisfy both parties, but it would also essentially screw over the Jazz.
Swartz outlined a blockbuster trade between the Jazz, Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers in which the following would happen.
Cavaliers get: LeBron, Bronny James, Adou Thiero
Lakers get: Lauri Markkanen, Jarrett Allen
Jazz get: De'Andre Hunter, Max Strus (via John Collins TPE), Sam Merrill, Lonzo Ball, Gabe Vincent, making the 2027 Lakers pick unprotected, 2031top-4 protected first-round pick
It's a given why the Lakers and Cavaliers would agree to this trade. It improves both of their situations drastically. For Cleveland, it's more current, while for the Lakers, it's long-term, but why would the Jazz make this trade? Swartz explained.
"This trade helps the Jazz secure a top-eight pick in the 2026 draft, adds more (and better) draft capital, frees up over $20 million in cap space and brings in three veteran wings with trade value."
Okay, if that's their primary intention going forward, then a trade like this would accomplish that. But that's not their primary intention (besides keeping their pick away from OKC). Far from it, in fact, which is why the Jazz's front office would laugh if this were offered to them.
Why, you may ask?
The Jazz might trade Markkanen, but not for that
All reports have indicated the Jazz plan to keep Markkanen. Moreover, they would only trade him if they were given an offer they couldn't refuse. This offer is, well, not that for Markkanen, because Utah would be offered no young players, but instead veterans that they would then re-route for likely very little, and what would be their reward for this? Technically, improving one asset while getting another.
Does that sound like a good deal for someone who has rediscovered his All-Star form and is entering his prime? Absolutely not. Sure, Markkanen is being paid a lot, but the Jazz gave him that because they believe in him. He's not seen as an albatross by the Jazz, and if that's how other teams see him, then Utah has every reason to keep him.
Even if they would consider trading the Finnisher, they're not desperate to do that, and this deal would signal that they would be. This deal is selling extremely low on Markkanen, and that's not even the most egregious part of it.
The Jazz wouldn't risk making their trade assets worse
So this trade makes the Jazz worse, even though they've shown they are not that bad when their roster is at full strength, and have strongly indicated they will be vying for the playoffs next season. What helps them in that regard is that the assets they are owed by their previous trade partners over the next few years may have significant value.
Cleveland has had a pretty uneven season after the first three years of the Donovan Mitchell went pretty well. This strongly hints that the Cavaliers might be starting their freefall, which is good news for the picks they owe the Jazz. So, why would Utah then help send them LeBron James for Round 3?
It's possible another reunion between LeBron and the Cavs happens anyway, but the Jazz have no reason to willingly help Cleveland orchestrate that. That goes double for the Lakers. Giving them Markkanen not only helps salvage much of what would be lost from losing James, but the two picks the Lakers would then owe them would get substantially worse, as it further solidifies the Lakers' future for years.
The Jazz would exchange quality for quantity in this trade, and there would be no incentive to do so, because the quality would worsen substantially to add only one asset that wouldn't hold much value anyway.
This would end their chances of signing Austin Reaves
Not *hurt* people, end.
At this point, every Jazz fan knows Reaves is their target this summer. The only reason Reaves would consider the Jazz (hypothetically) is that Utah wants to win. If they signal that they only want to get worse through a trade like this, he would have no reason to even consider leaving the Lakers for them.
For what it's worth, the Jazz's pursuit of Reaves this summer probably won't succeed anyway, but having Markkanen, a golden lottery pick, a solid core of young talent, and Walker Kessler holds some appeal to a big-name unrestricted free agent like him. If they took perhaps the best part of that out (Markkanen), it would all but ensure Reaves wouldn't ditch Hollywood for Salt Lake City.
It's actually quite plausible for the Lakers and Cavaliers to work out a trade like this, but anyone who thinks the Jazz would take part in it would be kidding themselves. It would hurt Utah anyway, but it's hard to believe they'd shoot themselves in the foot like that.