The Utah Jazz are expected to remain at the bottom of their rankings next season, and these three blockbuster trades could change their trajectory.
The Utah Jazz are expected to remain at the bottom of their NBA rankings next season after landing their fifth overall pick despite finishing with the worst record in the league.
Utah has young players with promising prospects: Cody Williams, Kyle Filipovsky, Keente George, Taylor Hendrix and Isaiah Collier, but none will decide on a franchise.
With the 2024-25 season in place, they were expected to land the drafts on players like Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper, although they would now need to pivot.
The 2026 NBA Draft class features top talent such as Cameron, Cayden Boozer and AJ Dybantsa. To land one of these premier players, the jazz will need to be tanked again.
To continue to raise and rebuild the young talent, the Jazz is expected to trade their best player, Lori Markanen. He has four seasons left on the contract, and many teams are interested in him if he becomes available.
Below are three possible landing spots for Lauri Markkanen.
The San Antonio Spurs are expected to draft Rutgers’ Dylan Harper after slipping into their second overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, but they are included in a significant share of trade rumors.
While Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain, Markkanen is an oversized forward that allows him to stretch the floor and hold his defense.
The lineup of Victor Wenbanima, Markanen, Harper, Dearon Fox and Steffon Castle will be difficult to beat both ends of the floor.
Complete mock trade details:
- Jazz reception: Keldon Johnson, Harrison Burns, Malachi Branham, no. 14 general picks, 2029 first round picks
- Spurs review: Lauri Markanen
The Spurs can keep Peace Julian Champaney of Deep, Devin Vassel and Jeremy Sochan on this deal. Meanwhile, the Jazz seduces future free agents by winning two expired contracts with Burns and Branham and a mobile contract with Johnson.
This is the most impactful trade that jazz can create as it adds draft topics to a class that is loaded with jazz. The Spurs may need to add another pick to sweeten the pot, but they will become the title contender while sending the jazz back to the lottery.
After making the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2019, the Detroit Pistons are on the rise.
Cade Cunningham is one of the best security guards in the league, and is proven by his All-NBA choice, with the pistons having enough young talent to allow for win-losing moves.
Complete mock trade details:
- Jazz reception: Tobias Harris, Marcus Sasser, Simone Fontechio, 2027 first round pick, 2029 first round pick
- Pistons recovery: Lauri Markkanen
The Jazz may prefer to get Oserle Thompson, but the Pistons tend to add Ron Holland to this deal. Sasser, Harris and Fontecchio all have expired contracts, with the Jazz adding two picks to their weapons.
None of these players bring much to the Jazz, but adding two unprotected picks was a priority for Utah, allowing them to request previous first-round picks like Thompson, Holland and Jaden Evy.
Do not include the Los Angeles Lakers. LA should be Luka Doncic’s team, but as long as Lebron James is on the roster, he will be the centre of their roster.
The Lakers have long been linked to land Walker Kessler as Jazz, especially as a high-level rebounder and rim protector. If the Lakers are willing to beat the bank, they can land both players.
Complete mock trade details:
- Jazz reception: Louis Hachimura, Jared Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Sheikh Milton, 2030 Pick Swap, 2031 First Round Pick
- The Lakers receive: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler
The Lakers may be fond of Knecht as a substitute for another pick, but expect Danny Ainge to play hardball and demand Austin Reeves instead of Vanderbilt. Whether Ainge gives way or not, the Lakers will be a two-way force for James, Doncic, Markkanen, and Kessler.
Markanen fits Donsic’s timeline, which is supposed to be number one priority in Hollywood. Jazz doesn’t get many expired contracts unlike other deals, but adding two far-off picks from LA and Knecht gives you the pieces to build them.
If Reaves is thrown into the deal, Utah will have a franchise player to ultimately build a franchise player, but it could remain bad next season.