Lauri Markkanen, the star forward for the Utah Jazz, has suffered a significant injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a month. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Markkanen sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand during a recent game against the Dallas Mavericks. This injury adds to a troubling start for the Jazz, who have only managed one win in their first eleven games of the season, raising concerns among fans who had high expectations following the team's recent draft of Darryn Peterson.

Markkanen's injury was initially thought to be a sprained wrist, which had already forced him to miss the last two games. The Jazz officially announced that he will be reevaluated in four weeks. This season, Markkanen has played eight games, averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, but he is shooting a career-low 38.9% from the field, although he has found some success from beyond the arc with a 39.7% shooting rate from three-point range.S2

The Jazz had hoped that a healthier Markkanen, alongside new additions like Jaren Jackson Jr., would help them compete in the Western Conference after several years of rebuilding. However, Jackson is also out with a torn MCL and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. With the team struggling at a 1-10 start, the front office faces difficult decisions regarding the future of the roster, particularly concerning potential trades for veterans such as Jusuf Nurkic, Josh Okogie, and Mo Bamba, among others.S2