Lauri Markkanen Ruled Out With Wrist Injury As Jazz Tank Rolls On

The Utah Jazz just lost their best player to another injury, which is a massive bummer for anyone who likes good basketball but an absolute thrill for a front office desperately trying to keep a draft pick.

Underdog NBA reported Tuesday that Lauri Markkanen is officially ruled out with a wrist injury. It turns out the big man suffered a sprained right wrist, adding to a laundry list of ailments this season that already includes a groin issue and an extended illness.

"Underdog NBA reported: 'Lauri Markkanen (wrist) ruled out Tuesday.'"

Markkanen has been playing out of his mind when he actually sees the floor. He is putting up nearly 28 points and seven boards a night while shooting around 48 percent from the field. Those are the kind of numbers that accidentally win you games, which is a massive problem for a franchise currently sitting in the Western Conference basement.

For context, the Utah Jazz owe a top-eight protected pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Every time Markkanen laces up and hits five threes, a Utah executive probably stares into the abyss. Sitting him down with a sprained wrist is just good business at this point in the tanking cycle.

His absence completely scrambles the betting board. Markkanen is worth multiple points to the spread, and taking him out of the lineup turns Utah from a frisky underdog into a team you fade without thinking twice.

With the franchise star in street clothes, expect the young guys to get an absolute green light. Keyonte George recently dropped 39 points in an overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks when Markkanen was out, proving he has zero hesitation about hijacking the offense. Kyle Filipowski should also see a heavy bump in frontcourt minutes.

Markkanen reportedly avoided a serious structural injury to the wrist, so his career is fine. Just do not expect the Utah Jazz to rush him back to the court anytime soon. When your primary goal is losing basketball games, a sore wrist is the perfect excuse to keep your best player safely on the bench.