LeBron James’ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers has left the Cleveland Cavaliers staring at a messy offseason, and the pause that came before it only made the wait feel bigger. Cleveland held off on making its own moves while James sorted out his future, hoping for a second reunion that would have given the franchise a clean, storybook finish. That didn’t happen, and now the Cavs are looking for a way to turn the summer around.
Jonathan Kuminga has been floated as a sign-and-trade target, and he brings youth, athleticism and defense. But his uneven offense makes any expensive deal a risky one, and he doesn’t really solve the problem if Cleveland is trying to land a true star. If the Cavaliers want a bigger swing, another reunion may be the cleaner path.
That brings Lauri Markkanen back into the picture. The former Cleveland forward has become the centerpiece of a rebuilding Utah Jazz team since the Donovan Mitchell deal in 2022.
He is on an overpaid contract, but he still profiles as one of the league’s best spacing forwards, with a career 37 percent mark from three. With Utah losing center Walker Kessler in free agency this year, the Jazz could be open to moving Markkanen if the right frontcourt partner for Jaren Jackson, Jr. is available.
Cleveland could make sense as the trade partner.
A deal built around Markkanen would also address a long-running issue for the Cavaliers: they’ve been too small. Since adding Mitchell, that has been a real drawback, even with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen helping cover for it.
Markkanen is the kind of forward who changes that balance. In a three-for-two framework, Cleveland would bring in two proven sharpshooting wings with size and scoring touch, while Utah would get Allen as an immediate Kessler replacement along with Dennis Schröder and hometown Sam Merrill.
Markkanen’s latest season showed exactly why he remains such a valuable offensive piece. He averaged 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 rebounds as Utah’s lead option before Jackson’s arrival.
He isn’t a first option who naturally lifts everyone around him, but his scoring package is hard to ignore. He can score at all three levels and moves well for a seven-footer.
Put him next to Mobley in the frontcourt, and Cleveland suddenly looks a lot more balanced.
Svi Mykhailiuk would be part of the same upgrade. The 6-foot-7 wing hit 40.8 percent of his threes last season on 4.8 attempts per game, giving the Cavaliers another catch-and-shoot threat. His defense is a weak spot, but his shooting would force defenses to stay honest and punish slow rotations.
The downside is obvious: moving Allen strips away a major defensive safety net, especially if Mobley misses time. Mario Hezonja could help fill out the frontcourt depth, though he is nowhere near the defender Allen or Mobley are. Thomas Bryant is not a true starting center, but he might be Cleveland’s best option in that scenario.
Even with that risk, the case for Markkanen is strong. He would give the Cavaliers another versatile offensive weapon and a much cleaner fit on the wing and in the frontcourt. If Cleveland can bring back Markkanen and Mykhailiuk, it might not be the summer ending the franchise wanted, but it could still rescue an offseason that was headed in the wrong direction.
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