Pistons get bad news about possible Lauri Markkanen trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lauri Markannen has featured heavily in trade rumors this season as the Utah Jazz appear ticketed for another losing season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut prying the All-Star forward out of Salt Lake City is going to be tough for any teams that would like to add him ahead of a potential NBA Finals run.
The Detroit Pistons have been mentioned consistently as a possible suitor for Markkanen, who is averaging a career-best 27.9 points per game this season. The Pistons are first in the Eastern Conference with a 16-4 record. Detroit has a lot of cap space, controls its own draft picks and has the mix of young players and expiring contracts that could convince a rebuilding team in the Jazz's position to engage in trade talks.
The Jazz want to build around Markkanen
However, the Pistons and other parties with potential interest in Markkanen were dealt a big blow on Monday amid new reporting from veteran NBA insider Marc Stein.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStein has said that the Jazz -- on course for a fourth consecutive losing season -- are more interested in adding players around Markkanen as opposed to trading him for players or for a collection of draft assets.
Markkanen was the centerpiece of the Donovan Mitchell trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022. The 7'1'' forward has emerged as one of the NBA's more underrated scorers since he was dealt to the Jazz, and Utah inked him to a five-year, $238 million contract extension in August 2024.
The length of that contract does not necessarily preclude a Markkanen trade from happening, especially if Markkanen -- who has never played an NBA playoff game -- decides he wants a trade to a contender.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut it means the Jazz's asking price for the Finn will be sky-high -- and even the Pistons, one of the few teams with the capital to swing this kind of a trade, might be put off by the demands.
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