Detroit Pistons fans have been plotting and scheming of ways to trade for Lauri Markkanen for years and there has recently been even more momentum for the deal in the fanbase as well as the national media.
On a recent episode of The Zach Lowe Show, the NBA guru talked about what different teams had to do to get over the hump, including the Pistons.
He named Detroit as his favorite landing spot for Markkanen after saying, “I can’t imagine a world where Lauri Markkanen is on the Jazz in a year.”
If Markkanen finally is emancipated from Utah, he’ll have plenty of suitors, as Lowe named 10 different teams that would be after his services, especially after his big showing in the EuroBasket tournament.
Here is the trade Lowe suggested, though he left out some specifics when it came to picks:
Utah gets: Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, picks
Detroit gets: Lauri Markkanen
On paper, this looks like a winner for Detroit, as they get a huge Tobias Harris upgrade and a guy who is a perfect fit with Cade Cunningham. Lowe also suggested that the Jazz may be more interested in Ron Holland than Ivey.
I’d be less thrilled about that prospect, as Holland is still cost controlled for several more years while Ivey is likely to enter restricted free agency after this season, but there are other issues with trading for Lauri Markkanen.
Lauri Markkanen has red flags and a big payday
The Pistons would have to find a way to make up around $215,000 to make the Ivey version of the trade work, hardly a big obstacle in a trade involving tens of millions of dollars.
I do question whether Utah would even be interested in Ivey or if there is another team (or several) that could offer more. When you start getting into multiple young players, I am out, as Markkanen is too big a risk and the Pistons wouldn’t be able to make up the depth.
Speaking of risk, Markkanen has never played 70 games in a season and only played about half the games last year. Some of that might have just been tanking but it is a concern, especially when you are giving up an extremely reliable player in Tobias Harris.
Harris isn’t as good as Markkanen, but he’s out there every night, which is arguably more important. The Pistons would still be thin at power forward only now with a starter that is injury prone.
But the upside of Markkanen would be too much to pass up, especially when the Pistons would be giving up two players on expiring contracts who may not even have a long-term future with the team.
We are going to hear plenty more about this trade, as it makes too much sense for Detroit. Now they just have to get the Jazz to play ball.