Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen dazzled at EuroBasket 2025 for Finland, and his name has now once again surfaced in trade chatter. It was reported earlier this offseason that the Jazz would be open to moving Markkanen, but no deal appears to have come close to materializing yet.
Markkanen remains one of the best players who is on the trade market at present, and Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor believes the San Antonio Spurs should bring him in. The Spurs have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons now, and O’Connor believes trading for the 27-year-old would be a step in the right direction.
So, we decided to put together a mock trade that sees the Spurs land Markkanen from the Jazz.
Proposed Trade Details
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, 2026 first-round pick swap (most favorable of SAS/ATL), 2031 first-round pick swap (most favorable of SAS/SAC)
The Spurs Get A Star Who Provides Much-Needed Outside Shooting
The Spurs and Markkanen seem like a match made in heaven. In very simple terms, they need some shooting, and the Finnish forward can provide that.
Markkanen has shot 37.9% from three over the last five seasons, and that number looks a bit better if you put aside the 2024-25 campaign. He certainly wasn’t at his best last season, as he averaged just 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 34.6% from beyond the arc.
There is good reason to believe that was an aberration, though, considering how well Markkanen had played in the two seasons prior. The one-time All-Star put up 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 39.5% from three from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
Now, Markkanen is unlikely to put up those numbers if he’s on the Spurs, as he won’t be the first option. You’d expect perhaps an increase in efficiency, though, and that would be great.
The Spurs, as of now, have some great pieces, but not shooters. Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle are certain to start, and none of them can shoot very well from three.
Wembanyama was the best of the trio at 35.2% last season, while Castle was at 28.5% and Fox at 27.4%. A forward like Markkanen is an ideal piece next to them.
The Jazz Land Two Quality Wings And Draft Picks
The rebuilding Jazz are getting a solid haul here in Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and two first-round picks.
Vassell averaged 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for the Spurs in 2024-25. He took a bit of a backseat in the offense last season, and you’d back him to put up about 20 points a night with a bigger role.
As for Johnson, the Jazz would be hoping to see him recapture his form from a couple of seasons ago. He averaged 22.0 points per game for the Spurs in 2022-23. which was his last season as a full-time starter.
The Jazz also get two first-round picks along with Vassell and Johnson, and they are interesting ones. Normally, in these trades, we often talk about the picks potentially not being valuable because the team sending them is getting the star. They won’t be struggling, which makes the picks not all that attractive.
Well, in this situation, the Jazz don’t have to hope for the Spurs to collapse, but the Atlanta Hawks and the Sacramento Kings. Neither team is exactly known for being successful, although the Hawks do look in a good position at the moment. Still, while they look good on paper, we’ll have to wait and see how all the pieces fit together on the court.
The Spurs Get Set To Make Noise In The Western Conference
It seems forever ago now, but the Spurs were once the gold standard of the NBA under Gregg Popovich. They kept churning out 50-win seasons and ended up winning five titles with Popovich.
Trading for Markkanen might not bring back those glory days immediately, but the Spurs would definitely be in a position where they can make some noise in what is an incredibly strong Western Conference. His shooting and rebounding will greatly help this team, while they will cover his biggest weakness.
Markkanen isn’t a very good defender, but he’ll be surrounded by great ones in Wembanyama, Castle, and Jeremy Sochan. This is exactly the kind of group you’d want next to him. A top-six spot in the West looks beyond reach for the Spurs at the moment, but you’d back them to make it in if they land Markkanen.
