Lauri Markkanen is the most talked-about name of the summer, with many teams — led by Golden State Warriors — interested in acquiring him from the Utah Jazz.
Lauri Markkanen is a wanted man. However, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Finnish player is very happy in Salt Lake City and might delay signing a contract extension to remove himself from the market.
In this quiet phase of the NBA market, only one player can truly spark excitement. That player is Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, considered by many to be the highest-level “available” player on the market right now.
This is partly because the Jazz don’t seem set to compete in the near future and partly due to the high price the Knicks paid to acquire a similar player, Mikal Bridges. Several teams, starting with the Golden State Warriors, have shown interest in Markkanen.
The Warriors want him to extend their championship window and give Steph Curry and Draymond Green a reliable player to compete with, but nothing has come of it so far.
A key date to watch
Akey date to watch is August 6th. From that day, Markkanen can sign a contract extension with the Jazz, after which he cannot be traded for six months according to NBA collective bargaining rules.
It appears Markkanen’s inclination is to stay in Salt Lake City, even delaying the extension by a day to remove himself from the market. The trade deadline is February 6, 2025, and by signing on August 7th, Markkanen ensures he will play the entire next season in Utah, avoiding any surprises.
“Lauri does not want to be traded; I don’t think signing on August 6th is even an option. We are almost 100% sure he will sign on August 7th,” said Tony Jones, a journalist who covers the Jazz for The Athletic. “Lauri is very happy in Utah, and so is his family.
Why the Jazz Can Keep Markkanen
Markkanen is only 27 years old, and according to the Jazz, his style of play is not likely to deteriorate much over time. He should still be ready and productive when the young players on the roster are ready to compete seriously. “His game is not based on athleticism, so he should ‘age’ well,” Jones continued. “The Jazz are confident that Lauri will still be this type of player, or very close to it, when they are strong again.”
The plan for the next year seems to be to give more space to the young players and take their chances in the Draft Lottery to get Cooper Flagg, the player that all the lower-tier teams in the league dream of acquiring to rebuild their fortunes. Only one team will get him, and the Jazz hope to be that team, pairing him with Lauri Markkanen. Evidently, they have not received the monster offer they expected for him.
