7 NBA dream trade deadline targets (and what they'd cost)

5) Lauri Markkanen

Utah Jazz All-Star power forward Lauri Markkanen was viewed as a potential trade candidate but that appears increasingly unlikely, though not impossible. The Jazz have played much better of late and even have a decent chance to make the play-in tournament.

While playing well may cost them a lottery pick, which they owe to the Oklahoma City Thunder, top-10 protected, they could get valuable experience. That may not sound like a lot but for a young, rebuilding team, it could be useful for the development of several young players.

Be that as it may, if the Jazz were bowled over by a massive offer from, say, the Thunder that included four first-round picks and a good young player, then Utah may strongly consider moving Markkanen. After receiving five firsts for Rudy Gobert and three firsts for Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz will undoubtedly expect a significant offer to think about moving their best player.

Barring that, however, the Jazz will probably hold onto Markkanen through the rest of the season and then look to sign him to a contract extension over the summer. Between those two outcomes, the jazz-keeping Markkanen is the more probable outcome but he isn't completely untouchable.