The Jazz are looking to add more talent to their team rather than send out their franchise centerpiece, according to NBA inside Marc Stein (subscription needed). His removal from the trade market is an expected but harsh blow to the Pistons, where he could have served as a perfect secondary option for Cade Cunningham. Instead, the Pistons will need to look towards smaller trades or internal development to continue their growth.
Markkanen could have made all the difference in Detroit
Markkanen has been rumored in connection to the Pistons for years. His versatile game and elite off-ball scoring make him a great fit alongside Cade. Markkanen's ability to shoot from the outside as a big man also give him a lot of value on a team desperately looking for more shooting. Fit is important for the Pistons in any hypothetical trade, but Markkanen seemed like the right piece to complement their existing roster.
However, it was also no secret that getting a deal done for his services was going to be extremely difficult. The Pistons have been reluctant to make big moves before evaluating the talent of their current young core. And, on the other hand, the Jazz seem unwilling to move Markkanen unless they get an absolute haul in return. The asking price has reportedly fluctuated over the years but seems to include multiple young players and picks.
Markkanen's play this season has reignited trade rumors. He's having a career-best scoring season, at 28 points per game. He's doing so on a young Jazz team without established ball handlers to set him up. We've seen how much better the Pistons look with reliable point guard play, so it's tempting to imagine Markkanen with the same boost.
However, the Pistons are also wary of disturbing the team culture that has led them to so much success this season. Detroit is off to its best start in decades at 16-4 and first in the East. Sending out a big chunk of their team in exchange for one or two players could throw things off.
Markkanen is also not guaranteed to be a perfect fit in the Pistons system. The Pistons rely on interior dominance to win games, scoring relentlessly in the paint on one end and protecting the rim on the other. Markkanen has not been a very consistent defender as his scoring has gone up. And he's a very weak rebounder for his size (officially listed at 7'1"), averaging just 6 rebounds per game this season.
Either way, it seems that the Pistons have lost out on the opportunity to trade for Lauri Markkanen, at least for the time being. The Jazz's renewed focusing on adding talent can send shockwaves around the league, and Markkanen's potential trade targets are the ones most affected.