NBA Trade Rumors: Insider Predicts Projected Lottery Team to Retain $195,868,144 Star Averaging 30.6 PPG 

The latest NBA trade rumors suggest that the Utah Jazz will likely retain Lauri Markkanen. The one-time All-Star is in the middle of an offensive tear, averaging 30.6 points on 48.5% shooting, including 38.9% from 3, while the team is 10th in the West with a 5-9 record. Utah is a projected lottery team and doesn't intend to give up its 2026 first-round pick.

In these circumstances, it would be ideal to trade Markkanen, who is a positive asset and contributes to the team's wins. However, Jazz insider Tony Jones predicted that Utah trading Markkanen is unlikely. Here's what Jones tweeted on Wednesday on a proposal sending the European star to the Pistons:

"The Jazz want to keep their 26 pick, and then they immediately want to be as good as they possibly can. That makes it less likely they entertain trading Lauri"

Tony Jones

@Tjonesonthenba

The Jazz want to keep their 26 pick, and then they immediately want to be as good as they possibly can. That makes it less likely they entertain trading Lauri

The Jazz have been among the worst teams since they moved on from the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era in the 2022 offseason. They have aimed for a high lottery pick since then, but haven't found any luck with the best prospects.

Victor Wembanyama landed with the Spurs in 2023, and Cooper Flagg joined the Mavericks this year despite Utah having a worse record. However, next year's draft is widely considered the best in recent memory. It's a deep pool of prospects, so it's understandable why the Jazz would look to get back in playoff contention next season.

Retaining Lauri Markkanen would be the best-case scenario. He is in the first season of his four-year $195,868,144 contract and could be a long-term piece as a veteran presence on their young core.

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Insider proposes blockbuster Lauri Markkanen to Pistons trade

Lauri Markkanen has been in the trade rumor mill for multiple offseasons and trade deadlines. However, the Jazz have been patient with talks around their best player. Utah's CEO of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, has a reputation for holding high asking prices for his top talents.

With Markkanen, Ainge will likely have more leverage moving forward, given his exploits this season. Markkanen is an excellent plug-and-play piece who can fit on most teams.

According to NBA insider and analyst Zach Lowe, the Pistons are one of the teams that could benefit the most by acquiring the Finnish star. On Wednesday's episode of "The Zach Lowe Show," the former ESPN employee proposed a blockbuster trade that would see the Pistons mortgage their draft capital and young assets for Markkanen.

"He’s averaging like 30 a game. The price is going to be everything. It's gonna be [Tobias] Harris, [Jaden] Ivey, [Ron] Holland, every pick and swap you have."

Zach Lowe listed that framework, assuming the Pistons want to keep Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, which they likely would.

Despite the lack of shooting, scoring, and shot creation outside Cade Cunningham, the Pistons are 13-2. They are 27th in 3-pointers made, 20th in 3-point shooting efficiency, 13th in points per game and 12th in offensive rating.

Lauri Markkanen would fit right in as the second option who can share the burden with Cunningham and elevate the Pistons in the areas they lack on offense.

For Utah, an offer like this might be hard to refuse for a 28-year-old star entering his prime on a much younger core around him.