Regrading the Cavaliers trade with Jazz for Donovan Mitchell

Regrading Cavaliers trade with Jazz: Lauri Markkanen is a star

On September 1st, when the Utah Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, they looked like a team destined to tank this season in hopes of drafting Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson. When viewed through that lens, it looked like a good move at the time for the Jazz, who got control of five straight drafts from the Cavs along with some decent talent.

Instead of tanking, however, the Jazz discovered that one of those players they added is a lot better than they or anyone thought. After four disappointing years in Chicago Markkanen joined the Cavs in 2021-22, starting as a jumbo 3 and playing well but not distinguishing himself.

Now in Utah, Markkanen is a star, putting up career-best numbers for a team playing better than expected. The 7-foot Markkanen is averaging 24.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, hitting 41.5 percent of his 7.2 3-point attempts per game.

Collin Sexton was the other big fish from a player standpoint, and he is having a good season as the primary scorer off the bench for the Jazz. He’s putting up 14.1 points per game and shooting a solid 38.6 percent from deep. Ochai Agbaji, a rookie out of Kansas, has only played 194 minutes total but has flashed some of his shot-making in the last couple of weeks.