Jazz Insist on Thompson for Markkanen — Pistons Won't Budge

Merlin sees a quiet chess match: Jake Fischer reports the Utah Jazz "would almost certainly want" 22-year-old Ausar Thompson in any trade for 2022–23 All-Star Lauri Markkanen, but Detroit "isn't itching to make a big midseason move." Markkanen (29.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 38.8% 3PT) has been called an "ideal player" for the Pistons, yet the Jazz — 5–10 — could cash in only if they stay mired in the West. Merlin notes the timelines clash. Detroit holds Thompson through 2027 with matching rights and sees no urgency; Utah still covets younger pieces and once weighed moving up for Thompson. With multiple Pistons projected to hit big contracts soon, a summer consolidation trade feels likelier than an immediate swap — patience, not panic, governs this tale.