Report: Warriors Offered Moses Moody, Multiple First-Round Picks, Pick Swaps, Second-Rounders To Jazz For Lauri Markkanen

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Tony Jones and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors offered Moses Moody, multiple first-round picks, pick swaps and second-rounders to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen.

The Warriors were protective of Brandin Podziemski. 

“The Warriors made the most aggressive offer, centered around Moses Moody, multiple first-round picks, pick swaps and second-rounders, team sources from both sides said,” Charania, Jones and Slater reported. “Utah wanted Brandin Podziemski in any theoretical deal. The Warriors were protective of Podziemski in the Markkanen conversation and a few other leaguewide trade proposals this summer, league sources said.

“Talks between the Warriors and Jazz were most alive in early July but became sporadic in recent weeks, league sources said. In the last several days, the Warriors have been resigned that a Markkanen long-term extension in Utah is a foregone conclusion, team sources said. No team met the Jazz’s enormous value for their centerpiece forward, and rival executives understood the only way Utah would consider a proposal was if it was overwhelming.”

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.”