Why the Thunder should trade for Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen

Three teams mentioned by Fischer as potential suitors for the All-Star power forward are the Kings, Hawks and Thunder. 

Of the three, Oklahoma City makes the most sense. Markkanen would be a perfect fit with OKC's roster. 

The biggest strength of Markkanen's game is his ability to score efficiently. He is averaging 23.7 points with shooting numbers of 48.7% from the field and 39% from three-point range on 8.5 three-point attempts per game. 

The Thunder are second in the NBA (38.7%) in three-point shooting percentage, but they lack the volume of an elite three-point shooting team, attempting the 19th most in the league with 33 per game. 

Adding Markkanen would increase the number of threes attempted, helping space the floor for All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 

No longer being the offensive fulcrum of his team would also allow Markkanen to increase his already great efficiency. 

Another area Markkanen can help the Thunder is with rebounding, an area in which the team struggles, ranking 26th in the league with 41.1 per game. Markkanen averages 8.6 rebounds and would add size to a small roster. 

The two biggest weaknesses of Markkanen's game — playmaking and defense — are areas in which the Thunder do not need help. 

Markkanen averages one assist per game, but with MVP-level guard play from Gilgeous-Alexander (31 PPG, 6.4 APG, 54.6 FG%), he would not need to worry about setting up his teammates. 

The Thunder rank fifth in defensive rating (110.6) and could hide Markkanen on that end of the floor. The defense is led by Luguentz Dort — one of the league's elite wing defenders — and backstopped by rookie rim protector Chet Holmgren (2.4 blocks per game). Gilgeous-Alexander is great on that end too, averaging a league-leading 2.7 steals per game.

It would take a lot to trade for Markkanen, but the Thunder have the draft picks to entice the Jazz into making a deal. 

The Thunder are currently third in the Western Conference, an impressive feat for the second-youngest team in the Association. With their youth, there is no pressure to make a win-now move, but the conference looks wide open and Markkanen would make the Thunder a dangerous playoff squad. 

The core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Dort and Jalen Williams looks primed to compete for multiple NBA titles in the future. Adding Markkanen to that group would accelerate the current timeline without jeopardizing the future.