Lakers Blockbuster Trade Idea Gets $238 Million 7-Footer to Form New Big Three https://t.co/Own7EYFvRn— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 5, 2025
Lauri Markkanen ‘Best Level of Player’ Lakers Can Afford
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June 5, 2025 1 Comment
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FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
Finnish Star ‘Best Level of Player’ Lakers Can Afford
“The Lakers will always be on the hunt for stars yet are limited in trade assets after acquiring Luka Dončić at the deadline. Markkanen is probably the best level of player Los Angeles can reasonably acquire and would be a strong third option behind Dončić and LeBron James,” wrote Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report.
The four players on their way to Utah in Swartz’s trade idea would be forward Rui Hachimura, small forward Dalton Knecht who was the Lakers first-round draft pick last year, reserve point guard Gabe Vincent, and backup big man Maxi Klebewho came over in the trade package that brought Dončić, but who is still recovering from a fractured right foot.
The trade would relieve the Lakers of $44.7 million in total salary, while brining in Markkanen’s $46.3 million for next season — the second year of the five-year, $238 million contract extension he signed with Utah last August. That keeps Los Angeles barely under the first apron.
Markkanen is the only current NBA player, and only the third ever, from Finland — a country better known for producing hockey stars. After playing college ball at Arizona, the Timberwolves made him the seventh pick in the 2017 NBA draft.
The just-completed season was Markkanen’s third in Utah. He averaged 19 points per game, down from 23.2 the previous year and a career-high 25.6 in 2022-2023.