The Utah Jazz are “very open” to moving All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. In light of the reports, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey urged the Los Angeles Lakers to go all-in on the Finnish sharpshooter, who has 2.5 threes per game at 37% in his career.
The Lakers trade proposal would see the team part with three impending free agents — Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Maxi Kleber — and several draft assets.
Lakers would receive: Lauri Markkanen
Jazz would receive: Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2032 first-round pick
Bayley explained why the high asking price was justified for Markkanen.
“The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t often listed among the potential Markkanen suitors, but they probably should be,” wrote Bayley.
“Combining his finishing ability with Luka Dončić’s playmaking would make him one of the most dangerous scorers in the league.”
Can Complement Lakers Stars
Bayley further argued that Markkanen, a player who thrives off the ball, would perfectly complement the skill sets of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers’ two primary facilitators, unlike Reaves, who thrives with the ball in his hand.
“His skill set is also nowhere near as redundant alongside Luka and LeBron James as Austin Reaves’ is,” he stressed. “And, at 28 years old, with a contract that runs through 2028-29, Markkanen will almost certainly outlast LeBron in L.A. He’s a natural fit as Luka’s long-term No. 2.
“The Jazz, meanwhile, getting a young-ish wing in 24-year-old Dalton Knecht, two expiring contracts in Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber and a fringe All-Star in Austin Reaves.
“Reaves has outplayed his current contract and could leave in free agency next summer, but he’s far from the prize of this deal. That would be the haul of picks.”
Lakers Need More Shooting
The Lakers added Jake LaRavia this offseason, but their roster could still use more shooting. The Lakers ranked 14th in 3PT percentage (36.4%) and 15th in 3PM (13.3) last season, with those numbers dipping even further in their five-game playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike believes the Lakers will need second-year guard Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent to step up big time — to fix the shooting woes.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick still has high hopes for Knecht, who hasn’t lived up to his high billing coming out of Tennessee.
“I really believe this, the guy did too much after the season, and I think in summer league, he was burnt out,” Redick said. “He was coming in here at 5 a.m. getting shots up, then doing two workouts with our summer-league staff and in the weight room.”
“It’s the other stuff that he’s got to just do and find that consistency in his defense, on being the low man, or boxing out, or crashing every time or sprinting back and actually talking in transition. When he’s doing those things, he’s an impact player.”
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