There was a time when Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz was untouchable and incapable of being acquired by other teams.
But times have changed and the latest reports from inside the team’s front office suggest that the Jazz could listen to potential offers about the All-Star.
However, would their asking price be too high?
Kevin O’Connor is reporting, via NBACentral, that the Jazz are requesting “five-ish picks” for Markkanen.
“My impression from talking to teams is that it’s something resembling the haul the Jazz received for Mitchell and Gobert: so, five-ish firsts and/or players of comparable value,” O’Connor said in his report.
The asking price for Lauri Markkanen could be around ‘five-ish picks,’ per @KevinOConnorNBA
“My impression from talking to teams is that it’s something resembling the haul the Jazz received for Mitchell and Gobert: so, five-ish firsts and/or players of comparable value.”
(Via… pic.twitter.com/pkGRSK5o2U
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 18, 2023
That’s an awful lot for Markkanen, even with all his talent and potential.
The Finnish star is scoring 23.4 points and 8.4 rebounds this season and would be a vital asset to just about any team in the league.
He is 26 years old and reached his full potential last season when he earned his first All-Star appearance and gained a ton of attention.
Jazz front office leader Danny Ainge has shown that he likes to play hardball when he is making trades, and it usually works out for him.
He got great hauls for both Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert a couple of summers ago and he is hoping he can do the same thing with Markkanen.
But will other teams be willing to offer so much for a player who has yet to participate in the postseason?
It seems unlikely that Markkanen will be leaving Utah any time soon simply because the Jazz are demanding a lot for him.
Will they change their tune later in the season if the team doesn’t improve?
NEXT: Jazz Star Linked To 3 Potential Contenders Via Trade