3. 76ers offer max for Lauri Markkanen
Markkanen is proving his All-Star season was no fluke as he averages 23.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 32.6 minutes per game.
The seven-footer is in his prime and fills one of the Sixers' biggest holes. Philadelphia sits 21st in 3-pointers made this season and 22nd in threes attempted. Markkanen has made 38.6 percent from long range this season on more than eight attempts per game. He spaces the floor and is comfortable firing away.
Jazz president Danny Ainge will want a king’s ransom for Markkanen. Acquiring a prime All-Star is never cheap, but are three first-round picks enough? Ainge got more for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but this is likely the maximum draft capital the Jazz can expect for Markkanen.
Utah could ask for young talent with the draft picks, but Philly is limited there. They are not trading Tyrese Maxey, which leaves Paul Reed, who cannot be traded to the Jazz after signing an offer sheet with them in restricted free agency, and Jaden Springer as their only young talents. Kenyon Martin Jr. is only 23 years old, but he is an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen would be an elite frontcourt, but the current Utah star has never played in the postseason. It would be a massive gamble for the Sixers to go all-in on a 26-year-old without playoff experience and could be the reason Daryl Morey and his front office steer clear.