The Utah Jazz are reportedly interested in trading Austin Reaves for Lauri Markkanen. This wouldn’t be the first time that Markkanen has been linked to the Lakers. It’s the kind of hypothetical that makes waves on social media, but when you strip away the excitement of a big name, the deal may not seem so appealing.
According to Jason McIntyre, during an appearance on The Herd, the Jazz are one of the teams that are interested in trading for Austin Reaves.
“The team I heard last night that is interested in Austin Reaves — keep an eye on the Utah Jazz… Lauri Markkanen is a budding star.”
It’s a conversation worth having, and if that offer ever lands on the table, the Lakers should at least think about it. But the deeper you look, the clearer it becomes that this move doesn’t actually make the Lakers better.
Great Numbers, No Meaningful Games
This is where the contrast becomes impossible to ignore. Lauri Markkanen has been in the league seven seasons and has experienced one winning year — a 44–38 season in Cleveland where he was a complementary piece, not a driver. Every other season in Chicago and Utah has ended below .500. And the most glaring part of his résumé?
Markkanen has never played a single playoff minute.
Seven seasons, no playoff appearances. He’s never faced a real postseason defense, never had to survive the adjustments of a seven-game series. There’s simply no evidence he elevates good teams.
Austin Reaves lives on the opposite side of that spectrum. He’s already produced in playoff basketball — the real stuff. He’s hit big shots, created offense late in games, and played his best next to stars in high-pressure environments. While Lauri has piled up numbers on lottery teams, Reaves has contributed to winning basketball in May, not just in January box scores.
Defense Is Still an Issue
Some fans justify the idea by pointing to Reaves’ defensive limitations, especially alongside Luka Doncic. But that argument collapses fast. Reaves is a better defender relative to his position than Markkanen is to his. AR competes on the perimeter, fights through screens, and holds up in switches when it matters. Markkanen, despite his size, isn’t a rim protector, doesn’t anchor lineups, and gets hunted in mismatches far more often. This trade doesn’t fix the defense — it turns a small hole into a bigger one.
The Bottom Line
The Lakers need wings, athleticism, and defensive versatility — not another offense-first scorer with no playoff track record. Utah may be interested in Austin Reaves, but the Lakers shouldn’t entertain the idea. Not when the contrast between these two players’ impact on winning is this clear.
