The Los Angeles Lakers are always on the hunt for All-Stars. That has been evident throughout their entire existence, and that was the case in February when they acquired superstar guard Luka Doncic.
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Doncic will now spearhead the Lakers for what they hope is the next 10-plus seasons. The Lakers have their superstar, but now they must get him some help in order to lead them to the Promised Land multiple times.
There are numerous players who can assist Doncic and the Lakers in achieving their goal. One massive three-team trade idea by Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report would see the Lakers land All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen.
“Lakers Receive: Lauri Markkanen
“Jazz Receive: Terry Rozier, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick from L.A., a 2031 first-round pick from L.A. and a 2031 first-round pick from Miami
“Heat Receive: Austin Reaves and Svi Mykhailiuk.”
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The Lakers lose a significant amount in this trade, which includes a substantial portion of their depth and one of their star players, Reaves. However, there is no doubt that they acquire the best player in the trade in Markkanen, who may be the talent the Lakers need to put them in title contention status.
The Finland native stands at seven feet tall and is able to spread the floor, playing well on both sides of the court. His defense may not be his strong suit, but he can score with the best of them and is a willing defender.
The former lottery pick has been a hot trade commodity for the past handful of seasons. The Jazz are a team not heading anywhere, and Markkanen is one of their most prized possessions when it comes to the trade market.
Markkanen has not played in the postseason in his eight-year career, and at 28 years old, a change of scenery with a team with high aspirations could be in the cards for him.
Last season was a down year for the big man, especially compared to the past two years before the 2024-25 season. Markkanen played in only 47 games last season, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in 31.4 minutes of action.
He’s played for nothing throughout his career, and that has especially been the case the past three seasons since arriving in Utah in 2022.
The price may be hefty for the Lakers, and if this trade could be made, it’s unclear if LA would actually pull the trigger on it.
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