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By Justin Grasso
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Detroit Pistons are thriving. So far, they look like one of the strongest contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Plenty of factors have played into Detroit’s success, including another All-Star-caliber stretch for Cade Cunningham and a strong start from the veteran big man, Jalen Duren.
With the Pistons looking to make their second-straight run through the 2026 NBA Playoffs, there’s an outside belief that another star-caliber player should be added. Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has been dubbed as a logical fit for Detroit since last year. The NBA analyst Zach Lowe certainly agrees.
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“I think he’s that ideal for how they play and what they need,” Lowe said of Markkanen, while discussing the Pistons.
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How Much Would That Trade Cost?
The Jazz aren’t going to be giving out any discounts for their sharpshooting forward. For the Pistons, they’ll have to shake up the rotation and then some in order to acquire Markkanen, if Lowe’s valuation is correct.
“He’s averaging 30 a game—the price is going to be everything,” Lowe explained.
So, what does “everything” look like? Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland, and a load of picks.
“If you want to keep Ausar Thompson, which you do. If you want to keep Jalen Duren, which you’re [expletive] right you do, and the Jazz have Kessler’s free agency coming too. … If you want to keep those two guys, and you do if you’re Detroit, then the price is Holland, Ivey, Harris, plus four picks, plus four swaps. It’s the whole thing.”
After averaging 19.0 points on 34 percent shooting from three in 47 games last season, Markkanen has boosted his current value with his numbers through 14 games. Seeing the court for 35.9 minutes per game, the veteran forward has produced 30.6 points per game, while shooting 38 percent from deep.
Would he be a great fit for Cade Cunningham and the Pistons? Considering Detroit pursued stretch-fours in the offseason, he fits the mold of what they want. However, the Pistons have found plenty of success early and have won a lot of games while shorthanded. At 13-2, leading the Eastern Conference, Detroit is far from desperate. Since last year, the Pistons have preached patience and development. After a 14-win season, they put up a strong fight in the playoffs against an Eastern Conference Finals contender. With core players taking a step forward, they look even stronger. Never say never when it comes to the NBA trade market, but Markkanen’s price might be too massive at this time.
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