Report: Lauri Markkanen an 'Elite No. 2', Jazz Need a 'Franchise Guy'

On Tuesday night, the Utah Jazz will find out where they’ll be selecting with the lottery pick in their possession in a loaded 2023 NBA draft. The stakes are high as Utah will attempt to bolster its roster with three first-round selections.

According to KSL sportscaster Jeremiah Johnson, Utah’s future hinges on getting this draft right. Johnson shared his opinion on The Bill Riley Show on ESPN 700.

“The future of the franchise is hanging on this draft. This is a draft and you talk to Tony a lot—Tony Jones knows this draft better than anyone I know,” Johnson told Riley. “There’s 10-12 players in this draft—I know he’s mentioned there’s 9-10 players of guys that have All-Star potential. This is a very deep draft and the Jazz have to get it right.”

Riley then pivoted to Utah’s need to bring in a No. 1 guy.

“Lauri Markkanen is an elite No. 2 but they still need a No. 1," Johnson said. "They need a franchise guy—a guy that is going to take the last shot—a guy that’s going to lead them where they want to go to contend for a championship.”

Saying the Jazz “have to get it right” this year may be a stretch. With potentially 14 first-round picks along with three pick swaps over the next six drafts, Utah’s front office can afford some mulligans along the way.

Also, keep in mind that Utah only has a 20.2% chance of sneaking into the top four. Bringing in a prospect at the 8-10 spot that’s going to one day be Utah’s best player is not a likely scenario — no matter who is chosen.

That said, all five teams left in the playoffs this year have a bonafide No. 1 player in LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Jimmy Butler. It begs the question: What’s the most likely path for a franchise player to find his way to Salt Lake City?

If you believe The Ringer's Ryan Russillo, Jazz CEO Danny Ainge' preferred method to build a franchise is via trade.

Russillo joined The Bill Simmons Podcast back in March and revisited a past conversation he had with Ainge, paraphrasing the executive's remarks.

“All you guys are obsessed with cap space, but I like to trade," Russillo recalled Ainge telling him. "I like to know what I’m getting. I don't want to wait around all summer and be disappointed when we don't get somebody. So I’m in control of the transaction here. When I’m trading, I know exactly what it is.”

Utah has the means to acquire a game-changer via trade. Whether an opportunity presents itself this offseason remains to be seen, but expect Ainge to be right in the thick of it if one does.

The most likely avenue of obtaining a better player than Markkanen may be through Markkanen. Being a better version of himself is certainly still in the cards, as he turns 26 years old next week.

One can make an argument that there’s plenty of room to grow, and the franchise player that can lead Utah to a championship may already be rostered.

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