The Utah Jazz has not withdrawn their position that Lauri Markkanen is not going anywhere this season. If they meet the expectation to one of the worst NBA teams, Markkanen in the team is only asked more and more as time passes. Bill Simmons explained that keeping him in the team would only serve to harm their chances of obtaining the best lottery results.
“Why is he still on Utah?” Asked Simmons. “… everything he is going to do is hurt them if they try to get a high choice.
After his Eurobasket version, Markkanen seems ready to return to form this coming season, what, if he does, could form a problem for Utah, because their movements have indicated outside of season that they are all intention to concentrate on acquiring young talent above everything else. Markkans can stand in the way.
Although Markkanen has been a compelling story in Utah, it becomes clear that he does not fit their timeline. Utah may think that they can easily keep him while trying to find the best young talent to supplement him in the long term, but it is not to say how long that will take, and whether he will return to All-Star form, could hinder the potential of Utah to add a future cornerstone.
Utah is certainly aware of this (potential) problem
Nobody argues against the idea that it would be logical for jazz to exchange Markkans because he plays in his excellent for one of the youngest NBA teams. However, the reason why Utah is willing to take such a risk is because the West is just so good and the jazz will just be so bad that they can live with Markkans who return to form and yet get a golden lottery pick.
That is their current perfect scenario of having their cake and the food this season. The jazz will not refuel forever, and if and when they decide that they want to win (which will not be this season, awaiting surprises), Markkanen’s contract is long enough that he will be there if they really start playing.
That is not to suppress the worries of Simmons, because it is very possible that Markkans looks like his normal self can make jazz better than they want now, as it is in the past. The mentality of Utah is clear: “We will cross that bridge when we get there”, so the only way to know if Markkanen will remain in Utah’s long -term plans will be how the team relates to him.
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