Report: Jazz Tried To Acquire Jrue Holiday, Mikal Bridges

The Utah Jazz were seemingly confident they could sign and extend forward Lauri Markkanen all along. So their goal with that in mind reportedly became to add a second star, or at least semi-star, to help push them to another level.

Per Shams Charania, Tony Jones and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Jazz have tried to add veteran players via trade over the past year or two. And who knows? Now that they’ve locked up Markkanen, perhaps they will try again.

“The Jazz have made multiple attempts to upgrade the roster and add a star next to Markkanen, including pursuits for Jrue Holiday last offseason and Mikal Bridges this year, league sources said,” Charania, Jones and Slater wrote.

Holiday, of course, went from the Milwaukee Bucks to reigning champion Boston Celtics last summer. Bridges was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to New York Knicks this year. But again, while the Jazz came up short in both of those pursuits, perhaps they will turn their attention elsewhere.

They most recently have been linked to New Orleans Pelicans small forward Brandon Ingram, who’s said to be available.

Markkanen will sign a five-year, $200 million extension with the Jazz after August 6 so he can’t be traded during the 2024-25 season. 

One of the best shooters and scorers in the NBA, Markkanen averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 48.0% from the floor, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line. 

A one-time All-Star, 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.

The Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings tried to trade for Markkanen, who never wanted to leave Utah. 

“But Markkanen, behind the scenes, repeatedly expressed his desire to remain in Utah and his belief in Utah’s plan over the long term, according to league sources,” Charania, Jones and Slater wrote. “He and his family have taken to the community, and the Jazz see him as someone who can be a central figure in a rebuild now and in the future.”

(Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.)