Expert: this is what Utah’s giant store means to Lauri Markkanen

Basketball expert and coach Christian Palotie sees a lot of good things in the Utah Jazz’s recent player trade, but there are also questions behind the high expectations.

Lauri Markkanen star-studded Utah acquired a star player from the Memphis Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr:n mixed John Koncharin, Jock Landalen and Vince Williams Jr:n.

Rotational players left Utah for Memphis Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang as well as three future first-round reserve shifts.

“This [kauppa] is a clear signal that the Jazz intend to finally win games in the 2026–27 season,” says Palotie.

The Utah Jazz have been among the worst teams in the NBA this season.

Palotie underlines that the Utah Jazz should not expect a miracle rise this season. Rather, the team tries to rank as poorly as possible in order to improve the chances of getting a good booking in the future.

For example, Palotie estimates that Jackson Jr. will play mostly scattered games in Utah this season. The star player does not want to take any risks in the next season.

The 208-centimeter Jackson Jr. gives Utah’s offensive line an interesting addition. The 213-centimeter Markkanen and the 218-centimeter Markkanen play with him in the attack Walker Kesslerwhose current season was ruined already at the beginning of November due to an injury.

“That front line has an awful lot of size. In that sense, the matchup is amazingly good for a player like Jackson – and also for Markkanen. A really sweet front line,” says Palotie.

Jackson Jr. has played 45 games in Memphis this season. His scoring average is 19.2.

Markkanen’s scoring average in Utah after 37 games was 27.4.

Expert says three more new players will add much-needed depth to Utah’s squad.

Utah paid for their acquisitions four rotation men and a good number of reserve shifts, but Palotie is not worried about that.

“There were eight players in the trade. Utah got the best four of them. In addition, it still had quite a lot of reserve innings left.”

From the beginning of the season, there were rumors that Markas was being taken elsewhere. Now the situation seems clear.

“Lauri Markkanen is still the best player on his team. He is not going to be traded for anything. I think it’s good for Markkanen too,” says the expert.

Palotie also highlights the risks hidden in a fresh wholesale trade. One of them is the upcoming salary cap.

“Next summer, there is no room for free players at all. Jackson’s deal for next season is practically 50 million. The probable first-round booking is in the order of ten million. It practically eats up the salary cap.”

Also, Utah doesn’t have any reasonable tradable contracts.

“Now, Jackson and Markkanen are on cheeky deals, but the others are less than 10 million. Most of the time, you need a 10-25 million dollar contract to get an elite player,” says Palotie.

Lauri Markka is not trading anywhere.

Utah added depth to its team, but the league’s brightest superstars are still missing from its ranks.

“If you want to play for the top spots, you have to have top players. The Jazz practically don’t have any [liigan] top20 guys. Markkanen can be 18s by some measure,” says Palotie.

He estimated that Utah might try to make another trade. According to the expert, the matter should be handled soon. The defense in particular needs strengthening.

Markkanen28, is in his fourth season in Utah and ninth in the NBA. There are almost 500 NBA games on the Finn’s account, but not even the first of the playoffs yet.

Palotie describes the situation in Utah as interesting. At the same time, he emphasizes the tight competition in the league’s Western Conference. In his assessment, he puts the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of Utah.

There are tough contenders, for example, led by the Dallas Mavericks.

“Utah has a chance to be sixth – or fifth if someone collapses,” says Palotie.

Kessler’s return to fitness and Keyonte Georgen growing more and more into the league’s requirements counts as a plus for Utah, but how far will it go.

Although the situation next season looks better than the current one, the new signings will not necessarily bring Utah happiness.

Memphis showed with the player trade that it is now focusing on building the future. The club has covered a lot of booking shifts and is starting to build a new rise.

Memphis is coached Tuomas Iisalo.

“Iisalo has to be able to win games with a young, inexperienced and pretty bad team, so that the Memphis club management is convinced that he is the right coach for them in the future as well,” says Palotie.

He estimates that Memphis will continue its game moves in the market.

”Ja Morant we will certainly continue to trade.”

Both Memphis and Utah are currently at the bottom of the NBA’s Western Conference.

Memphis has won 19 of their 48 games this season.

Utah has played 51 games and won only 16.