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Trade Package for Lauri Markkanen Revealed

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The Los Angeles Lakers will do their best to acquire a third star to pair alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James this summer. The front office has plenty of assets to make a trade, but it takes two to tango.

The Lakers have enough, but it will be up to the other team to cooperate and complete a deal. The purple and gold are rumored to acquire a handful of star players, including Utah Jazz All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen.

Markkanen could be a prime candidate for the Lakes this summer; however, the price may be overboard. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the price for Markkanen could be ‘something like four or five first-round picks.’

“In a big picture, Markkanen’s value to the Jazz is so great that it’s going to take an offer that is probably not going to come to pry him from the Jazz,” Jones writes. “Something like four or five first-round picks, and a star-level talent coming over. Markkanen is a 7-footer who shoots 40 percent from 3-point range on volume.”

Potentially giving up four or five first-round picks for a one-time All-Star may be too much to handle for teams who want Markkanen’s services, even for the Lakers. While Markkanen is a great player who embodies today’s NBA style of play, you’ll only be guaranteed his services for two seasons. The 26-year-old is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.

Markkanen could fit in perfectly alongside James and Davis. He is a stretch four who is a willing defender and can add a scoring punch to the squad. The former 2017 lottery pick averaged 23.2 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from the three-point line, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

The Finland native won the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year award and has made a name for himself in Salt Lake City. If he becomes available in the trade market, expect the Lakers to vie for his skillset.

5 Best Destinations For Kevin Durant If He Demands A Trade

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The Lakers Form An Incredible Big 3

Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
-Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns Receive:
-D’Angelo Russell
-Rui Hachimura
-Taurean Prince
-Max Christie
-2029 First-Round Pick
-2030 First-Round Pick Swap

Once again, the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves exiting early from the playoffs, this time falling to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. With LeBron James in the twilight years of his career, the Lakers are in desperate need of another superstar to maximize their championship window. Acquiring Kevin Durant could be the seismic shift needed to create a formidable big three, alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis.

This potential Lakers lineup, which notably retains promising guard Austin Reaves, could dominate the NBA. Durant’s scoring ability, combined with LeBron’s all-around brilliance and Davis’s defensive prowess, would pose a significant challenge for any opponent. This trio would not only bolster the Lakers’ offensive firepower but also bring a level of versatility and experience that is unmatched in the league.

In return, the Suns would receive a package that includes D’Angelo Russell, who could immediately step in as a primary ball-handler and scorer. Rui Hachimura and Taurean Prince would provide depth and versatility at the forward positions, while young talent like Max Christie offers developmental potential. The future draft picks, including a first-rounder and a pick swap, give Phoenix additional assets to either rebuild or leverage in further transactions.

For the Lakers, this trade is a clear signal of their intention to compete at the highest level, leveraging the remaining prime years of LeBron and the peak abilities of Davis. For Durant, it offers another chance to chase championships in a high-profile setting, potentially cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.