NBA trade rumors are making waves again, this time with the spotlight on Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen. According to NBA reporter Kevin O'Connor revealed that the Utah Jazz's asking price for Markkanen was as high as five first-round picks.
The source of this rumor can be traced back to a report by Yahoo reporter Jake Fischer that the Utah Jazz have opened the door to other teams to bring up their ** against Markkanen. And o'Connor added that during his interview, the Jazz expressed their expectation of a return similar to that of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell when they were traded, which is roughly five first-round picks or players with matching value.
You know, in the Gobert trade, the Utah Jazz were handsomely rewarded with Beasley, Beverley, Vanderbilt, Bol Marlow, the No. 22 pick in 2022, and four first-round picks. And in the trade that sent Mitchell to the Cavaliers, they got Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Abaji, Collin Sexton, and three unprotected first-round picks (2029, respectively) and two first-round picks swap (2026 and 2028).
Markkanen was impressive last season, averaging 25 per game6 points, 86 rebounds and a whopping 49 percent shooting9%, and the three-point shooting percentage also reached 391%。Not only did he make his first All-Star, but he was also named the Most Improved Player. And this season, despite only being halfway through, Markkanen is still at a high level, averaging 234 points, 84 rebounds, shooting and three-point shooting percentages are equally impressive.
It's worth noting that Markkanen has two years left on his current contract and is worth a total of $35 million, making him a highly sought-after target on the trade market. His youth, strength and contract strength have all made the team compete for it, and for the Jazz, they seem to have a clear plan for the future, hoping to get more rewards from this trade and further strengthen the team's competitiveness.