The Utah Jazz are expected to remain at the bottom of the standings next season, and these three blockbuster trades could change their trajectory.
The Utah Jazz, after landing the fifth overall pick despite finishing with the worst record in the league, are expected to remain at the bottom of the NBA standings next season.
While Utah has promising young players in Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Isaiah Collier, they don’t have a franchise-defining player to build around.
By tanking the 2024-25 season away, they were expected to land the draft rights to a player like Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper, although they now need to pivot.
The 2026 NBA Draft class is loaded with top-tier talent like Cameron and Cayden Boozer, as well as AJ Dybantsa. In order to land one of those premier players, the Jazz will have to tank again.
To land young talent and continue their rebuild, the Jazz are expected to trade Lauri Markkanen, their best player. He has four seasons left on his contract, and plenty of teams will be interested in him if he is made available.
Here are three possible landing spots for Lauri Markkanen.
The San Antonio Spurs, after sliding up to the second overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, are expected to draft Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, although they have been included in their fair share of trade rumors.
While Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain the top targets, Markkanen is an oversized forward who can stretch the floor and hold his own on defense.
A lineup of Victor Wembanyama, Markkanen, Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle would be hard to beat on either end of the floor.
Full Mock Trade Details:
- Jazz receive: Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Malaki Branham, no. 14 overall pick, 2029 first-round pick
- Spurs receive: Lauri Markkanen
The Spurs get to keep depth pieces Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan in this deal. The Jazz, on the other hand, get two expiring contracts in Barnes and Branham to entice future free agents, and get a movable contract in Johnson.
This is the most instant-impact trade the Jazz can make, as they add a draft pick in a loaded class. The Spurs might have to add another pick to sweeten the pot, but it makes them title contenders while sending the Jazz back to the lottery.
After making the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2019, the Detroit Pistons are a team on the rise.
Cade Cunningham is one of the best guards in the league, evidenced by his All-NBA selection, and the Pistons have enough young talent to spare, making a win-now move possible.
Full Mock Trade Details:
- Jazz receive: Tobias Harris, Marcus Sasser, Simone Fontecchio, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick
- Pistons receive: Lauri Markkanen
While the Jazz might prefer to get their hands on Ausar Thompson, the Pistons would be more inclined to add Ron Holland to this deal. Sasser, Harris, and Fontecchio are all on expiring contracts, and the Jazz would add two picks to their arsenal.
None of these players would bring much to the Jazz, although adding two unprotected picks would be the priority for Utah, and they could demand a former first-round pick like Thompson, Holland, or Jaden Ivey.
It’s hard to build a list of trades and not include the Los Angeles Lakers. LA should be Luka Doncic’s team, although as long as LeBron James is on the roster, he will be the centerpiece of their roster.
The Lakers have long been linked to the Jazz, specifically to land Walker Kessler as a high-level rebounder and rim protector. If the Lakers are willing to break the bank, they could land both players.
Full Mock Trade Details:
- Jazz receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Shake Milton, 2030 pick swap, 2031 first-round pick
- Lakers receive: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler
While the Lakers likely value Knecht as a stand-in for another pick, expect Danny Ainge to play hardball and demand Austin Reaves instead of Vanderbilt. Regardless of whether Ainge gets his way, the Lakers will have James, Doncic, Markkanen, and Kessler, becoming a two-way force.
Markkanen fits Doncic’s timeline, which should be priority number one in Hollywood. The Jazz, unlike other deals, don’t get many expiring contracts, although adding two distant picks from LA and Knecht gives them pieces to build with.
If Reaves gets tossed into the deal, Utah will finally have a franchise player to build around, although they will likely remain bad next season.
