The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business this past offseason. The franchise was determined to fill the void left by Anthony Davis at center and did so by signing free agent Deandre Ayton. While Ayton hasn’t wowed spectators with his play on either end of the floor, many believe the former Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers center is still working out the kinks with his new Western Conference squad, which is a logical assessment.
However, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz isn’t sold on Los Angeles’s current frontcourt unit (Jaxson Hayes serves as Ayton’s backup). In the notable NBA writer’s opinion, the Lakers should consider trading for a 7-foot-1 former All-Star this season.
“If LeBron James misses extended time with sciatica or any other ailment, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to need more offense from players not named Luka Doncic,” Swartz wrote last Thursday.
“Lauri Markkanen may tie up the future cap sheets, but he’s an ideal starting forward to pair next to Doncic, and at age 28, is in the prime of his career. The 7-footer can knock down threes, put the ball on the floor and isn’t afraid to dunk over opponents in traffic.”
“With or without James in the lineup, Markkanen would be a huge add for a Lakers team that needs to keep pace with squads like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets in the West.”
It’s safe to say Markkanen will gain his desired national attention once he joins a franchise serious about competing for championships.
For now, Markkanen is stuck on a Jazz squad with a low ceiling, but the 28-year-old should be applauded for making the most of his current situation.
Markkanen, who contributed 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds with the Jazz last season, is already on track for a career year in the scoring department this season. The Arizona product is averaging 26.5 points per game through two games on a Jazz squad sitting at .500.
Unlike Ayton, Markkanen can be productive as a perimeter shooting threat, as he’s a 37.2% career three-point shooter and boasts a 40.0% long-range shooting percentage to start the 2025-26 season. It wouldn’t hurt for the Lakers to give Doncic multiple ball-screen options moving forward. Ayton is best suited for pick-and-roll scenarios, while Markkanen (who’s capable of fulfilling that role) is a lethal pick-and-pop threat in today’s heavy three-point shooting league.
Acquiring Markkanen could help put the Lakers over the top in the Western Conference.
