Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen remains one of the most sought-after players in the league, especially with Paul George off the board signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
There's confidence Utah's front office will at least hear out trade offers from contenders around the NBA, but it remains a mystery if the Jazz are committed to building their future with him at the helm. Markkanen's value could reflect a similar package to the New York Knicks haul of draft capital for Mikal Bridges. ESPN's Tim MacMahon recently shared on the 'Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective' podcast why the San Antonio Spurs are an ideal suitor for the star forward.
“I was going to say that to me that would be a much more intriguing situation for Markkanen because of the way he would perfectly compliment Wemby. The Spurs are loaded up on picks, can still have cap space, or have easy ways to make the money match. That would be one heck of an addition if the Spurs want to be aggressive," MacMahon said. "Markkanen is not going to be traded for any sort of discounts, just to be clear.”
“The teams who are negotiating with the Jazz do think there's a good chance they're going to move them," Windhorst added.
With the addition of veteran guard Chris Paul in the backcourt along with Stephon Castle at No. 4 in the NBA Draft, it's no secret the Spurs are building a roster catered to Victor Wembanyama. And rightfully so, as the 20-year-old is a generational talent filled with unmatched potential. Adding Markkanen to the mix could speed up Wembanyama's development while allowing San Antonio to make noise in the postseason sooner than expected.
