Trade Proposal Sends Lauri Markkanen To Spurs, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Multiple Picks To Jazz

One NBA analyst proposed that the San Antonio Spurs acquire Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Spurs and Jazz:

San Antonio Spurs receive: Lauri Markkanen

Utah Jazz receive: Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, 2025 first-round pick (top-three protected), 2025 first-round pick (via ATL), 2029 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick (via DAL) and 2026 first-round pick swap (via ATL)

The Spurs are one of the many teams interested in acquiring Markkanen from the Jazz. 

“The Spurs are reportedly among the 7-footer’s suitors, per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, and they certainly have the assets to make something happen if they want to fast-forward things around ascending superstar Victor Wembanyama,” Buckley wrote in his NBA trade column. “Markkanen, who turned 27 in May, could be an ideal costar for the fact he could help raise the franchise’s floor but isn’t so old that it would put immediate win-right-now pressure on the young centerpiece. A Wembanyama-Markkanen frontcourt would be a bastion of size, length and two-way skill. Each brings paint-to-the-perimeter scoring, on- and off-ball utility and enough defensive versatility to pester players of nearly all sizes and play styles.

“Let Chris Paul properly position this pair for greatness for a year, and something special could be brewing in San Antonio sooner than later.”

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 for the Jazz while shooting 48.0% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line. 

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 are taking trade calls on Markkanen, who is in the final year of his contract. He’ll make $18 million next season.

“The Jazz could certainly try haggling for additional picks, but there’s a lot of quality here,” Buckley wrote. “The Hawks could self-destruct at any moment, so having control of their next two drafts would be enormous. The Mavericks are fully invested in the present and could pay for it in the future. The Spurs may not click right away (they just lost 60 games, after all) and who knows how their roster will have taken shape five years from now.

“Utah might initially request Devin Vassell, but negotiating down to Johnson and Branham might satisfy both sides. The Spurs would retain their best current fit with Wembanyama, while the Jazz would maximize their draft pick return by accepting two different prospects, both of whom are under 25 and creative and capable on the offensive end.”