Report: Kings Came Close To Acquiring Lauri Markkanen From Jazz

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Sacramento Kings came close to acquiring Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz this offseason. 

Talks between the Kings and Jazz fell apart by early July. Sacramento acquired DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls after that. 

The Golden State Warriors have pursued Markkanen as well. 

“The Kings made significant progress in talks with the Jazz this summer, sources said, which ultimately fell apart by early July,” Fischer reported. “Utah has made clear it prioritizes sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski over Jonathan Kuminga from Golden State, sources said, although the Warriors have envisioned both players in starting roles for next year.”

Markkanen is one of the best players in the NBA. He 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 in 55 games. 

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. 

Markkanen will sign a massive extension with the Jazz after August 6 so he can’t be traded during the 2024-25 season. 

“But if Markkanen waits to sign his new deal until Wednesday or later, Markkanen won’t be eligible to be traded during this upcoming 2024-25 season,” Fischer wrote. “He wouldn’t be eligible to be traded for six months after his new agreement, in accordance with the collective bargaining, which would fall one day after the Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was similarly crucial for Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen to sign his extension Aug. 2, leaving him available for a trade for four days prior to the deadline.

“All indications, though, are that Markkanen intends to delay his signature for that exact purpose, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Markkanen was traded twice in the span of 12 months, first with Chicago lording over his 2021 restricted free agency. The Bulls eventually relinquished Markkanen via a sign-and-trade that shipped the Finnish phenom to the Cavaliers on the three-year deal that is currently set to expire at season’s end. Yet following one strong season with Cleveland, the Cavaliers rerouted Markkanen to Utah as part of their massive outgoing package for Donovan Mitchell in September 2022.”