76ers Should Target Lauri Markkanen Trade Over Paul George Contract Amid NBA Rumors

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that, while the Utah Jazz do not necessarily want to trade Lauri Markkanen, teams are preparing aggressive offers for the 27-year-old forward (h/t Evan Sidery).

While there is no indication on which teams are preparing said offers, there is one that should consider adding Markkanen to their roster in pursuit of an NBA title: the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers have been linked to Paul George since their season ended earlier than expected and continue to be. It is no surprise as the team needs a third star if it wants to make a realistic run at a title and George is a player that complements what they do and does so graciously, without ego. He is a selfless player who can take over games or yield to the bigger stars when necessary and is the type of player who would thrive in that city.

He is also seeking a max contract; a contract ESPN estimates at $212 million over four years.

No one would blame the Sixers for dishing out the money to acquire George’s services, but Markkanen may prove more valuable.

The Finnish-born player is in the final year of an expiring contract and is due just over $18 million. While he does not play the same position as George, he is statistically similar to the higher-profile star.

Markkanen averaged 23.2 points per game to George’s 22.6, shot 48 percent from the paint to the Clipper’s 47.1, and 39.9 percent from beyond the arc to George’s 41.3. He added 8.2 rebounds per game, as well as two assits, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks.

He was a quality scorer for the Jazz and it is no surprise that general manager Danny Ainge will look for the best, most fruitful package possible in order to give up the burgeoning star.

Markkanen can drive to the net and finish or hang back and take the all-important deep shots. He creates room for himself and has evolved into the player most expected him to be during his time with the Chicago Bulls.

More confident than ever, he is a player who can come in and from day one, give the Sixers another inside presence to go along with the face that runs the place, Joel Embiid. He also will not step on the toes of Tyrese Maxey, who the team is about to give a max contract to and hopes will continue developing into the star of the future.

And, if for whatever reason the fit does not work, the team makes no long-term investment in him outside of whatever it gives up to acquire him from Utah.

If it does, the team can negotiate a long-term deal at the end of next season rather than having to navigate those waters while trying to get the Maxey deal done.

Does Markkanen have the name value that George does? No, but he brings some of the same strengths to the court, with potential to continue his evolution. That there is an element of physicality there, too, would help a team that has not always been able to assert dominance in the way that it should.

Sixers may not love it on the surface, but there is reason to believe a deal for the younger, still progressing player would be every bit as beneficial as exhausting the cap and bringing in the more recognizable star.