The Utah Jazz have deflated Lauri Markkanen’s trade value, and things won’t improve this season with an entire rotation of players under 25 years old as the Jazz try to lose games. Markkanen is in his prime, but teams can sell out to stop the former All-Star. The Jazz clearly want to keep him in Salt Lake City, but they can’t expect his production to improve with a young and inexperienced roster around him.
Utah will likely start two young guards and rookie Ace Bailey next to Markkanen and center Walker Kessler. The Jazz are tanking and hope to land the number one overall pick in the 2026 draft.