The Jazz need to give Lauri Markkanen some real support if they want to stay competitive. These five All-Star trades could turn things around in Utah.

The Finnish seven-footer signed an extension in August knowing that this season in Salt Lake City could be a tough one for the Jazz.

Fresh off a newly inked extension, the Finnish star is ready for the challenges ahead with the rebuilding Jazz.

Do the Jazz have that? Nobody knows with exactness.

Making Lauri Markkanen a cornerstone of the rebuilding process has given the Utah Jazz a clearer direction of where the franchise wants to go in trying to become an NBA playoff contender again. The Jazz extended Markkanen’s contract in August,

While Valimaki is one of many Finnish NHL players — case and point: Utah HC forward Mattias Maccelli also hails from Finland — Markkanen is more of a rare breed. He is one of just three Finnish basketball players ever to have reached the NBA.

Lauri Markkanen's offseason fate seemed uncertain all the way up to August 7, when he renegotiated and extended his contract

Markkanen is entering his eighth NBA season and just turned 27 in May, making him one of the Jazz's most experienced players. Only Patty Mills (36), Jordan Clarkson (32) and Drew Eubanks (28) will be older than the former 2017 first-rounder on opening night.

I think it was about stopping and appreciating how far I’ve come,” Markkanen said. “It was a nice feeling to know that a lot of teams wanted you to play for their franchise. It was kind of a cool