Spurs land sharpshooting star in tantalizing trade proposal with Jazz

Spurs add sharpshooter to proposed blockbuster with the Jazz

The proposed deal would send Keldon Johnson, Atlanta's 2025 first, Chicago's 2025 top-10 protected first, Atlanta's 2027 first (top-3 protected), and the more favorable of the first-round picks between the Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2030 for Lauri Markkanen. That would be a massive deal that would send potentially four lottery picks to the Jazz for their best player and give the Spurs a star to pair with Wembanyama.

Since being acquired by the Jazz, Markkanen has been one of the most efficient offensive players, averaging 24.5 points on a stellar 49% FG /39.5% 3PT/88.5% FT shooting split to go along with 8.4 rebounds. Having some average nearly 25 points on 63.6% true shooting is rare and even more rare when they become available.

Therefore, the Spurs are right to have an interest in him, and his potential fit next to rising superstar Victor Wembanyama is intriguing. Both his and Wembanyama's shooting would give the Spurs plenty of spacing, even allowing Jeremy Sochan to still play alongside them despite his questionable shooting.

On paper, the deal makes sense for the Spurs, but would they agree to the trade package, and equally as important, would the Jazz agree too?