By Justin GrassoShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Detroit Pistons have started the NBA season as one of the most successful teams throughout the first quarter.
While they’ve shown a willingness to keep the core together without any major shakeups over the past year, many NBA analysts and writers have eyed Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen as the ideal trade piece to give Detroit a proper boost into championship contention.
Bleacher Report recently stirred up a trade idea between the Pistons and the Jazz, which would be centered on landing Detroit the experienced sharpshooter.
The Mock Deal
...In this scenario, the Pistons would part ways with Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2030 first-round pick.
“Detroit could use more star power and better spacing around Cade Cunningham, and Markkanen, who played for coach J.B. Bickerstaff in Cleveland, would check both boxes,” Bleacher Report writes.
Although Markkanen has spent the past three seasons with the Utah Jazz, the Pistons know him well. They shared the same division with him throughout the first five years of his career.
However, the Pistons didn’t face the All-Star version of Markkanen four times per season. During his first year in Utah, Markkanen earned All-Star honors, along with picking up the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
He hasn’t made it back to the big game, but he’s on pace to be in the All-Star conversation once again this year. Throughout the Jazz’s first 19 games of the season, Markkanen has made 46 percent of his shots from the field, hitting on 35 percent of his threes. He is producing 27.9 points per game, along with 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
The Jazz are still one of the Western Conference’s rebuilding teams, but they are beginning to show some promise. As a result, Utah is once again hesitant to part ways with Markkanen, despite a 6-13 start, placing them 11th in the conference.
The Dallas Mavericks proved last season that nobody is untouchable. If the Pistons wanted Markkanen, they could get him. Initial reports about Markkanen’s potential cost were absurd—looking like the proposed package above, including additional pick swaps and even potentially Ausar Thompson. The hypothetical is better, but still pricey.
The Pistons aren’t just playing to make the playoffs anymore. They are searching for ways to get in and advance. On paper, Markkanen is a great fit, but his lack of postseason experience makes him just as much of a question mark as Jaden Ivey, who missed Detroit’s playoff run last season.
When it comes to big trade swings, earlier is better in the NBA. But the 16-4 Pistons don’t need to take that kind of gamble right now. They are better off seeing what they can do with Ivey while at the top of the East, and potentially see Markkanen’s price lower as the season plays out.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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