Report: Warriors, Kings, Spurs, Timberwolves, Pelicans Have Spoken To Jazz About Lauri Markkanen Trade

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans have spoken to the Utah Jazz about a Lauri Markkanen trade.

Markkanen, one of the top players in the NBA, is in the final year of his contract. 

“The Warriors, Kings, Spurs, Timberwolves, and Pelicans are among the teams who’ve expressed interest in trading for Markkanen, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto reported. 

Markkanen averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Jazz while shooting 48.0% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line. 

Markkanen will make $18 million next season. He can sign an extension this offseason. 

Markkanen has career averages of 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz. He won the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with Utah. 

“With Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen eligible to renegotiate and extend his contract in August, Utah executives Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik have received a bevy of interest from teams around the league looking to acquire the star forward,” Scotto reported. “The leaguewide belief is that the Jazz would only consider moving Markkanen for a sizable trade package similar to what the Knicks gave up to acquire Mikal Bridges – a player Utah tried to acquire and pair with Markkanen. For context, New York overwhelmed the market for Bridges, who has two years on his contract, by agreeing to trade four unprotected first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap, and a protected first-round pick. Markkanen is owed $18 million this season in the final year of his contract.”

Utah went 31-51 in 2023-24. The team was 11th in the NBA in points per game, 29th in points per game allowed, 17th in offensive rating, 30th in defensive rating and 23rd in net rating under head coach Will Hardy. 

Most people around the NBA believe Markkanen is better suited to play for a contender since the Jazz are in rebuild mode.