Ranking Thunder's Top Trade Targets After 2024 NBA Playoff Loss | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

To be clear, there are no signs that Utah is remotely interested in trading Lauri Markkanen. If anyone can convince the Jazz to soften that stance, though, it's the Thunder with their ability to pile up picks and prospects in a future-focused trade package.

Now, it might take a fortune to even get Utah's attention. As The Athletic's Tony Jones put it, "it's going to take an offer that is probably not going to come to pry him from the Jazz."

That sounds ominous for almost everyone. Oklahoma City could be the one exception. Even if it took a handful of draft picks to get Utah talking, that's a price this franchise can afford to pay.

And Markkanen sure seems worthy of a splurge. He'd check most every wish-list item for the Thunder, including size (7'0", 240 lbs), scoring (23.2 points per game) and rebounding (8.2). Even if a move to the Sooner State cut into his volume, it might boost his efficiency and improve his defensive effort (which is already pretty great). A trade for Markkanen could have finishing-piece potential for the Thunder if he fit as well in practice as he does on paper.