Could the Utah Jazz look into a Lauri Markkanen trade once again this summer?

When asking around the league, a few teams seem to think that possibility is yet again on the table for the Jazz front office.

According to ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony, some teams across the NBA expect the Philadelphia 76ers to investigate a trade involving their third-overall pick, and Markkanen, along with Kevin Durant, could be potential targets.

“Some teams expect the Sixers to be active in trade conversations, with names such as Kevin Durant (Phoenix) and Lauri Markkanen (Utah) as potential targets in packages that could include Paul George and the No. 3 pick,” Givony said. “Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has made a career of being active and aggressive on the trade front, but historically, it’s rare to see a top-three pick being traded.”

The Jazz silenced any and all trade chatter on Markkanen at the end of last summer heading into the 2024-25 campaign by inking him to a five-year, $280 million extension, effectively placing a trade restriction on his services throughout the entirety of the regular season.

But now, the offseason is getting underway. That trade restriction is no longer in play, and with it could come a change of tune from the Jazz brass concerning a Markkanen trade, if they see an opportunity come their way that they like. Perhaps a trade into the top three to acquire a young franchise cornerstone could be the move to push the needle.

Markkanen comes off an injury-ravaged and up-and-down season, one where he played in 47 contests to average 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 42.3% shooting from the field. While not up to the standards he’s posted for the past two years in Utah, the league knows what Markkanen can do at his best, and maybe for Philadelphia, he could be the win-now piece they covet more than a young prospect.

However, it still remains up in the air if this Jazz front office truly wants to part ways with their star talent in Markkanen. Just last offseason, we saw how highly Utah valued their All-Star forward in trade rumors with those like the Golden State Warriors, where the saga ended in their asking price being too high, and inevitably putting pen to paper on a new extension.

Could the Jazz have changed their mindset after one year into Markkanen’s contract? It’s hard to say, but to pick up a long-aspired high-ceiling young player into the top three of the draft, maybe Utah finally ends up pulling that trigger.

Though with an executive like Danny Ainge at the helm, it’s hard to map out how any offseason could eventually transpire. This time around is no different.

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On May 5, 2025, nearly 80 students, researchers, and professionals gathered at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) for the inaugural Utah SciComm Symposium – an event designed to empower scientists to communicate their work with clarity, creativity, and relevance. Supported by the Research!America Civic Science Microgrant, this event provided a platform for showcasing innovative science communication and fostering dialogue between disciplines and communities. While scientific rigor is essential, the true impact of research depends on how effectively we share it.  

The Utah SciComm Symposium brought together voices from academia, government, and journalism. Julie Kiefer, PhD, shared insights from her work at University of Utah Health, emphasizing the power of connection in making science matter. Atim Enyenihi, PhD, offered a policy and industry lens, reminding attendees that the messenger’s identity shapes how science is received. Matthew LaPlante, PhD, drove the message home: “The challenge of science communication is not one of ‘dumbing things down,’ but rather ‘bridging our brilliances.’”

Following these talks, we hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) panel, where audience members submitted anonymous questions on topics ranging from career pathways in science communication to overcoming burnout, navigating misinformation, and rekindling a sense of wonder in research. This open dialogue created a space for candid conversations, making the event feel more like a community exchange than a traditional lecture series. 

A centerpiece of the symposium was the SciComm Hackathon Finalist Presentations, where six graduate students showcased creative projects – including comics, visual storytelling pieces, an animated lecture, and a short-form video designed for social media – that translated their complex research for broader audiences. These projects were the result of months of dedicated work, as students developed and refined their materials with feedback from our expert judging panel and media consultant, Julie Callahan. Julie’s experience in multimedia graphics and public outreach was instrumental in helping students shape their ideas into compelling stories. More than just a showcase of scientific expertise, these projects reflected a shared commitment to storytelling, accessibility, and meaningful public engagement.  

“Science communication serves as a bridge between the public and trust in science,” said Kiefer. “Without it, knowledge stays in labs and datasets, when it should be changing minds and changing lives. I’m excited to see so many talented young scientists who are passionate about explaining science and its impacts in creative ways.”

Beyond presentations, the symposium featured interactive science activities led by Utah Brain Awareness Week members from the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Utah. Attendees had the rare opportunity to hold real human brains, learning fascinating facts about brain structure and function, while the concussion goggles module allowed participants to experience the disorienting effects of mild to severe brain injuries. By testing their motor skills through this simulated “patient” lens, attendees also gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of protecting the brain from injury. 

The event’s design reflected the ethos of public engagement: breaking down barriers between science and society through conversation, creativity, and shared curiosity. The Utah SciComm Symposium wasn’t just about presenting research – it was about creating a culture of communication, where storytelling and public engagement are seen as essential components of scientific practice. In an era where misinformation and polarization threaten scientific trust, equipping researchers with these skills is a necessity. By fostering a culture of science communication, we aim to build a more informed, engaged, and connected community.