The Los Angeles Lakers are having a mixed bag of a season so far, sitting 11-9 and out of the top six in the West. Every single one of their losses has come at the hands of a team above .500, which is a concerning trend for the Lakers who can’t match up to competition at a higher level. With a list of injuries plaguing the roster, the Lakers are falling behind the top of the West through the first 20 games of the season.
The offense has been particularly bad, as the Lakers have an offensive rating of 111.3, the fourth-worst in the NBA so far. Even with D’Angelo Russell playing well, the Lakers simply don’t have enough offensive weapons when LeBron is off the court. Austin Reaves has been a letdown to start the season, with other players on the roster excelling at defense.
The Utah Jazz are possibly looking to move on from Lauri Markkanen, who is continuing to play at an All-Star level on a rebuilding Jazz squad. This could be the perfect target for the Lakers.
Trade Details:
Utah Jazz Receive: Rui Hachimura, Jalen-Hood Schifino, 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2030 First-Round Pick Swap (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Lauri Markkanen
The Lakers will be forced to part with a talented frontcourt player along with the rookie point guard they drafted this summer. The expensive pick equity can’t be ignored either, but the 27-year-old Markkanen can be the fulcrum that helps the Lakers transition from one era into the next.
The Jazz Tank While Cashing On Lauri Markkanen’s Value
The Jazz ended up with Lauri Markkanen last summer as filler in the Donovan Mitchell trade. Since then, he’s emerged as an All-Star and one of the best forwards in the NBA. He’s averaging 23.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals this season, continuing to build his reputation as one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA. The Jazz aren’t going anywhere with his exploits, sitting with a record of 6-13. He can contribute at a high level as a No. 2 or 3 option on a contender.
Rui Hachimura can help the Jazz find a solution at their wing position, playing the near seven-foot Markkanen as a small forward this season to accommodate John Collins. Hachimura can slide into the starting three while young replacements such as Brice Sensabaugh continue to develop. Hachimura is just 24 years old and still has a lot of room to grow, as his short stint on the Lakers has already proven.
Jalen-Hood Schifino adds depth to a bare point guard rotation in Utah, headlined by Collin Sexton. Former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker is also competing for guard positions, but his long-term future on the franchise is questionable given his underwhelming play so far. JHS is talented and could emerge as one of the star guards for the Jazz provided he gets the opportunity to play and develop.
The Lakers Move To Win Now While Planning For The Future
The Lakers need to maximize their window with LeBron James. While nobody expected him to play at this high a level six years into his tenure with the Lakers, the franchise needs to recognize that they have a small window with LeBron. They’ve already wasted two seasons by tolerating a bad team due to a lack of available trades on the market. The cards are lining up well for the Lakers to make a major move, with Markkanen being an ideal fit.
Lauri has shown he can be an excellent self-creator on offense, getting his own buckets whenever needed. He’s also able to contribute well in link-up play, cleverly reading the court to make passes whenever necessary, though it’s not an elite skill for the Finnish forward. His ability to shoot is desperately needed for the Lakers. He will get more open shots playing alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis, compared to being the primary focus on defense for opposing teams facing Utah.
Markkanen is just 27 years old, meaning he has many years of his prime still ahead of him. Even though it looks like James can play forever, he likely can’t. The Lakers need to start planning for the future. Given their pick situation and the AD extension, a rebuild isn’t in the cards for the next few years. Acquiring Markkanen will give the Lakers the perfect bridge between the LeBron era and whatever is next for the franchise.
The Ideal Wing Scorer Reshapes The Lakers
The Lakers get to keep most of their guard depth in this deal, parting with the rookie Schifino who would struggle to make it into the playoff rotation behind D’Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent. The Lakers still haven’t been able to find a solution for the frontcourt position alongside AD and LeBron, with several bigs and wings filling in based on injuries and matchups. Markkanen would end that instability, capable of playing any role all over the frontcourt. His natural scoring ability and length to disrupt passing lanes would give the Lakers arguably the best frontcourt rotation in the NBA, with Jarred Vanderbilt off the bench.
The Jazz could have a bidding war for Markkanen, given his affordable contract being easy to match by most teams around the NBA. It’s a question of how much draft capital a team is willing to give up, with the Lakers offering a pretty juicy package with this. The Jazz and Lakers have already made two trades last season, with the second trade being for Russell Westbrook and saving the Lakers’ season. The front offices have a good relationship, so the Lakers need to move on this deal as soon as possible.
The soonest it is possible will be January 15th, as Hachimura becomes trade-eligible after that. This is a good deal for all parties involved and could propel the Lakers into contention in the West.
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