NBA Trades: Spurs steal OKC's Thunder in mock deal with Jazz and Pelicans
By Cal Durrett
Would the Utah Jazz agree to the deal?
With speculation that Markkanen and Kessler could both be moved, the Jazz would be able to deal both in this hypothetical swap and receive top dollar. Five first-round picks, Johnson, and a pick swap is quite a haul and would allow the Jazz to hit the reset button. Doing so by bottoming out ahead of the 2024–25 season would help them get into the Cooper Flagg race, with him expected to be the number one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Even with a maximum 14% chance of being the top pick, going all-in in that direction is better than trying to build around Markkanen by re-signing him to a 5-year deal for up to $250 million. He is 27 years old and even if the Jazz were able to build a contender in the next three years, he'd be 30 by then, nearing the point where players tend to decline.
The Spurs, ironically, did something similar with Dejounte Murray, trading him for three firsts and a pick swap while clearing the deck for them to tank for Wembanyama. They ultimately got him and are well-positioned to win for years to come. The Jazz could follow suit, with the goal of landing Flagg next year or even Cam Boozer in 2026. It's a risky strategy but Utah doesn't have a better alternative and could be well-rewarded by agreeing to the deal.