If the Utah Jazz trade Lauri Markkanen to the Detroit Pistons, they’ll certainly want Ausar Thompson in return. That’s assuming Detroit would be willing to make a big midseason trade at all.
“There really isn’t much trade chatter of any kind at the moment involving the unexpected leaders of the Eastern Conference,” NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Sunday.
Pistons Could Add Lauri Markkanen Amid Historic Winning Streak
The Pistons tied a team record Monday night with their 13th straight victory and improved to 15-2, defeating the Indiana Pacers on the road 122-117. Detroit matched the winning streaks of its 1990 and 2004 NBA championship teams.
“It’s amazing,” Pistons star Cade Cunningham said. “We play for the Detroit Pistons, man. A historic franchise. So, to be able to make history for a historic franchise like this — it’s special.”
Moving Thompson for Markkanen sounds great for Detroit on paper, but it also seems like an expensive trade deal. Utah would probably demand multiple first-round picks and critical role players in return for the All-Star wing.
Injuries are another concern for the 7-footer.
Markkanen played in a career-high 68 games (all starts) during his rookie 2017-18 season. Since then, the Arizona product has been unable to make the same number of appearances in a single campaign.
However, the Pistons are in win-now mode, so maybe the deal could work.
Jazz Acquired Markkanen From Cavs
Utah acquired Markkanen in the 2022 trade that sent All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Markkanen was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft out of the University of Arizona.
He spent his first four seasons with the Chicago Bulls and one with the Cavs before getting traded to Utah. The Finnish star was named the 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player after averaging a career-high 25.6 points with the Jazz.
In 47 games (all starts) last season, Markkanen averaged 19 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 31.4 minutes per contest while shooting 42.3% from the field and 34.6% from 3-point territory.
He missed nearly half the season due primarily to a lower back injury.
The Jazz offered Markkanen a four-year, $195.86 million renegotiation and extension, allowing him to sign the deal last August and making him ineligible to be traded before last season’s deadline.
Markkanen is now trade-eligible, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Thompson, meanwhile, is averaging career highs of 12.6 points, 3.0 assists, and 28.7 minutes per game through 13 outings (12 starts) with the Pistons this season.
Detroit drafted him with the No. 5 overall pick in 2023.
