Markkanen is one of the top players in the NBA. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Jazz while shooting 48.0% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line.

Markkanen has career averages of 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz. He won the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with Utah.

The Jazz are taking trade calls on Markkanen, who is in the final year of his contract. He’ll make $18 million next season.

“The Jazz could certainly try haggling for additional picks, but there’s a lot of quality here,” Buckley wrote. “The Hawks could self-destruct at any moment, so having control of their next two drafts would be enormous. The Mavericks are fully invested in the present and could pay for it in the future. The Spurs may not click right away (they just lost 60 games, after all) and who knows how their roster will have taken shape five years from now.

“Utah might initially request Devin Vassell, but negotiating down to Johnson and Branham might satisfy both sides. The Spurs would retain their best current fit with Wembanyama, while the Jazz would maximize their draft pick return by accepting two different prospects, both of whom are under 25 and creative and capable on the offensive end.”