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

One NBA analyst proposed that the Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Thunder and Jazz:

Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F Lauri Markkanen

Utah Jazz Receive: PG Nikola Topić, F Ousmane Dieng, F Kenrich Williams, 2025 first-round pick (via Utah Jazz), 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick

The Jazz missed the playoffs in 2024, while the Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round in six games. 

“The Thunder are already big winners of the 2024 offseason with the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “But no other team has more draft ammunition to trade for Markkanen, who would help turn what was once a small frontline in OKC into three 7-footers.

“A starting five of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Markkanen, Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein would be massive, erasing any weaknesses the Thunder previously had on the glass. A bench of Lu Dort, Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams and others would make OKC extremely deep as well.

“This trade would create a significant gap between the Thunder and the rest of the West. It would add another 20-point-per-game scorer to OKC’s starting lineup while only making a small dent in the team’s future draft picks.”

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

Markkanen is one of the top 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 Thunder would have a “Big 4” of Markkanen, Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren if OKC’s front office figured out a way to acquire Markkanen from Utah.