The Jazz Don't Need to Trade Lauri Markkanen
In the modern NBA, rebuilding teams can find success much faster than before. Utah has a clear opportunity to join that trend without making drastic roster moves.
Walker Kessler’s Impact
Walker Kessler’s career has taken interesting turns. As the first major return from the widely criticized Rudy Gobert trade, Kessler delivered a strong rookie season. His defense-first play style helped carry on the legacy of the “Stifle Tower.”
Lauri Markkanen’s Breakout Season
The Jazz found their offensive leader in the same offseason, acquiring Lauri Markkanen in a separate Salt Lake City deal. In his first year with Utah, the 25-year-old forward earned the Most Improved Player award and was selected for the All-Star team. He was even in serious contention for an All-NBA Third Team spot before injuries slowed him late in the season.
Rookie Success and Draft Moves
Kessler’s rookie year further highlighted Utah’s momentum. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams, and earned a place on the All-Rookie First Team. Impressively, he averaged more blocks per game than Gobert while playing fewer minutes.
Utah, initially viewed as a rebuilding squad, defied expectations by finishing the season with a 37–45 record. The Jazz later added to their young core through the draft, selecting Taylor Hendricks and picking up another valuable asset from the Minnesota Timberwolves alongside Kessler.
Utah’s Core Moving Forward
At that point, the team’s main long-term building blocks were Markkanen, Kessler, Utah’s own draft picks, and a few reliable rotation players. Even without big trades, Utah showed a strong foundation for future growth.
“Walker Kessler’s solid rookie season represented a path forward for Utah in the context of having a defense-first center to carry the Stifle Tower’s legacy.”
Author’s Summary
The Utah Jazz already possess a strong young foundation with Markkanen and Kessler, making a trade of their All-Star forward unnecessary for future progress.
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