Lauri Markkanen as Cavs potential trade candidate would seem premature

I’m not going to say that Lauri Markkanen necessarily knocked it out of the park as a sign-and-trade acquisition for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season from the Chicago Bulls.

After arriving from Chicago last offseason, Markkanen started slow for the most part, and then missed time in November because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. He was up-and-down again until seemingly really hitting his stride beginning in early January, and then unfortunately missed over a month through the All-Star break due to a high ankle sprain.

Post-All-Star, Markkanen was in a very nice rhythm, and had 16.7 points per contest, and connected on 38.1 percent of his three-point shot attempts then.

Now, some of that might have had to do with Markkanen, at least offensively, being back predominantly at the 4 with Jarrett Allen missing most of the closing stretch of the season because of a fractured finger. Markkanen had more opportunities then, and by that time in the season, just appeared more comfortable, too.

On the year, there were again some inconsistencies, though, and Markkanen overall had 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per outing, and shot 35.8 percent from three. He did fine this year in an entirely new situation, I believe.

That said, it’s not seemingly 100 percent clear as to whether or not Markkanen will be around for the long term, as he has had inconsistencies in his career, dating back to Chicago, and injuries have been an issue. I still would think the Cavaliers could very well again start Markkanen in the three-big lineup at the outset of next season, but there’s others involved, and the team could feasibly look to get a more established player to start at the 3 via trade, or look to add one via free agency.

Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword and Right Down Euclid mentioned in a mailbag/report that Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons could be a “realistic” trade target this offseason for Cleveland, and Grant was mentioned in trade rumors throughout this season.

He wasn’t dealt, but he could be this offseason, and with that in mind, Lauri Markkanen or Caris LeVert, along with seemingly Cleveland’s two potential second-round picks this year could possibly be a trade package for Grant, based on Dammarell’s report. With Markkanen, that’d take a bit more cap filler, for context.

I’d understand why Cleveland could possibly seek a deal for Grant, who leveled up his offense in the last two seasons with Detroit in a much more featured role. I don’t believe in a case with the Cavaliers that Grant couldn’t get more out of himself defensively, like before with the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, either.

In any case, while I wouldn’t expect a Grant deal to go down, per se, it wouldn’t be that surprising. Or perhaps the Cavs could seek a trade for another wing/combo forward, such as Harrison Barnes, maybe.

Nonetheless, at least from perspective, even with some ups and downs this season for him, and with the Bulls, partially due to injuries before, if the Cavaliers were to make a fairly significant trade this offseason, I’d prefer them hold on to Markkanen.

Markkanen as a potential trade candidate would seem premature, from a Cavs standpoint.

There’s not a ton of trade chatter involving Markkanen, but Dammarell’s report did somewhat substantiate him as maybe a potential trade candidate.