According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Utah Jazz would “almost certainly want” Ausar Thompson in a Lauri Markkanen trade with the Detroit Pistons.
Rival executives have frequently suggested Markkanen as an ideal player for the Pistons to target.
Detroit has the best record in the Eastern Conference at 15-2, while Utah is only 5-12.
“Another likely obstacle that should be factored into the persistent Markkanen-to-Detroit speculation: Utah would almost certainly want Thompson in return,” Fischer wrote. “Sources say that the Jazz, in fact, considered trading up to select him during the 2023 NBA Draft. The Pistons, as you can imagine, do not want to trade their Thompson twin.”
Markkanen is making $46.4 million this season. Do the Pistons really want to break up their core for a player who has never been to the playoffs? Probably not.
A one-time All-Star, Markkanen is averaging 28.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season while shooting 47.3% from the field, 37.7% from beyond the arc and 89.3% from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, Thompson is putting up 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game for the Pistons while shooting 51.9% overall, 30.8% from 3 and 50.0% from the foul line. He’s only 22 years old.
The Pistons made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2019. They lost to the New York Knicks in the first round in six games.
While Markkanen would be a great fit next to Cade Cunningham, Detroit has no reason to make a big trade right now since the team is clicking on all cylinders.
Perhaps that could change if the Pistons don’t get past the first round of the playoffs again.