Rival teams now expect Jazz to add help, not trade Lauri Markkanen

Many around the league are starting to believe the Jazz have made up their minds on Lauri Markkanen, and it is not in the direction rival teams were hoping for.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports that more front offices now think Utah is leaning toward building around Markkanen this trade season instead of moving him.

Markkanen has been fantastic again, averaging 28.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and shooting splits of 46.8 percent from the field, 36 percent from three and 90 percent at the line.

He sits 12th in the league in scoring and is in year one of the four-year, $195 million renegotiation-and-extend deal he signed last summer.

Utah is only 6-13, which has fueled outside chatter that Markkanen should eventually want out.

But league sources told DallasHoopsJournal he has never entertained the idea of asking for a trade. He set the tone on media day, saying he does not “pay attention” to rumors and will adjust “if something happens.”

Markkanen has played for the Bulls, Cavaliers and Jazz and owns career averages of 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds.

For now, all signs point to Utah planning to add talent around him, not shop him.