The San Antonio Spurs have long been linked to a premier NBA trade candidate, and even as his circumstances change, their interest in him shouldn't.
For years, the San Antonio Spurs have been casually linked to Lauri Markkanen. While the Utah Jazz are seemingly on the rise, they still have a long way to go before they're true contenders in the loaded Western Conference.
With their future in mind, the Jazz could be willing to make a deal with the Spurs, sending their best win-now player away for a future-driven trade package.
Markkanen is one of the better stretch fours in the NBA, standing at 7-1 and shooting 37 percent from 3-point range over his career. Even with Tobias Harris in town, the Spurs should salivate over the possibility of adding Markkanen to the roster. He has three seasons left on his contract, so by the time he hits free agency, the Spurs should be ready to kick off a winning era with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper leading the way.
Mock Trade Sends Lauri Markkanen to Spurs
Ever since the Spurs drafted Wembanyama in 2023, San Antonio has been linked to Markkanen. Having two seven-footers who can handle the ball and shoot would make the Spurs unstoppable.
The Jazz, meanwhile, should finally be ready to emerge from their rebuild. A starting five of Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jusuf Nurkic, Darryn Peterson, and Keyonte George should be solid enough to compete, and in the coming seasons they could be near the top of the conference.
George is one of the more promising young guards in the NBA, and Peterson was compared to Kobe Bryant before being drafted. However, both players are very young, and the Jazz could benefit from landing a lead ball-handler and more draft capital that they could flip in the future.
The Spurs could send De'Aaron Fox and a 2029 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen.
Fox is under contract for one year longer than Markkanen, but in a season where the play-in is the goal, adding a proven lead guard is a good idea. The Spurs, meanwhile, upgrade their starting five and can move either Tobias Harris or Devin Vassell to the bench.
The Jazz aren't in any rush to trade Markkanen, but it's certinaly a possibility.
"Markkanen seemed to be out of trade conversations after the Walker Kessler exit, but he’s been thrust back into the mix lately," wrote Heavy's Sean Deveney. "It’s hard to see the Jazz pulling the trigger on a deal, but at age 29 on a rebuilding team, Markkanen is at a high point in his value."
Maybe the Spurs would have to round out this trade with more draft picks. Maybe the Jazz would demand players who fit their rotation better, like Vassell or Keldon Johnson. Maybe you're tired of Markkanen being linked to the Spurs.
If a capable defender and deadeye shooter is made available, the Spurs should pounce all over it. Plus, since Markkanen is on a shorter deal, moving on from Fox and adding him would make the inevitable contract negotiations with Castle and Harper easier down the road.
