‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen To Hawks

One NBA analyst proposed that the Atlanta Hawks acquire Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Jazz and Hawks:

Atlanta Hawks Receive: F Lauri Markkanen

Utah Jazz Receive: F/C Onyeka Okongwu, G/F Dyson Daniels, SG Kobe Bufkin, 2025 first-round pick (unprotected via Los Angeles Lakers), 2025 first-round pick (top-12-protected via Sacramento Kings)

“Building a big, physical team around Trae Young should be the goal,” Swartz wrote. “Markkanen is a 7-foot small forward who now becomes the Hawks’ secondary scorer (23.2 points, 41.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes) and part of a potentially huge starting five alongside Young, 6’8” Zaccharie Risacher, 6’9″ Johnson and 6’10” Clint Capela. Atlanta would still have Bogdan Bogdanović, De’Andre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr., Garrison Mathews, Cody Zeller and others off the bench.”

Markkanen becomes extension eligible on August 6. He’s on an expiring $18 million contract and due for a large long-term raise.

Markkanen is one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 48.0% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line in 55 games. 

Markkanen has career averages of 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz. He won the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with Utah. 

The Jazz and Hawks missed the playoffs in 2024.

“With the 2025 draft class projected to be one of the best in years, this trade would give the Jazz potentially five first-round picks to jumpstart the franchise,” Swartz wrote. “They already own unprotected picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves and now add additional selections from the Lakers and Kings (top-12-protected in 2025, top-10 in 2026, turns into 2026 and 2027 second-round picks if not conveyed). Trading Markkanen also helps Utah’s chances of keeping its own pick (top-10-protected, owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder).

“The Jazz also get some good, young former first-round picks to add to their talent base. Daniels can’t be aggregated in a trade until September 4, although making this into two separate deals (with Daniels going into a $6.4 million trade exception owned by Utah) would allow the two sides to complete the deal immediately.”