Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen will become eligible to renegotiate and extend his contract on August 6. Signing on that day would make him ineligible to be traded for six months, with the trade restriction lifting on the day of the 2025 trade deadline (February 6).
Making a Monday appearance on The Drive with Spence Checketts on ESPN 700 in Salt Lake City (audio link), Tony Jones of The Athletic explained why he’s not counting on an Aug. 6 announcement.
“I would expect him to sign on August 7th, or after August 6th,” Jones said (hat tip to HoopsHype). “Lauri doesn’t want to be traded, so if he signs the renegotiation and extension, which I expect him to do, I expect him to do it after August 6th so there’s no trade talk this year. I don’t even think him signing on August 6th is even that much of an option. We’re almost 100% trending towards him signing on August 7th.
“Lauri has really taken to Utah. His family has taken to Utah. Obviously the Jazz can trade him between now and August 6th, and Lauri knows that, but Lauri has forged a really close relationship with (head coach) Will Hardy. And Will Hardy has really found a way to unlock his career in a manner that hasn’t been accomplished before. Lauri really recognizes that, understands that, and appreciates that. He wants to be a part of the rebuild.”
Jones confirms that the Jazz explored making “win-now” transactions at the start of the offseason, including pursuing Mikal Bridges. After those moves didn’t come to fruition, the expectation was that Utah might pivot to a more full-fledged rebuild by trading Markkanen. But Jones says the Jazz believe the 27-year-old’s game will age well and that he should still be in his prime when the team is ready to contend again.
“The likely scenario is Lauri signs on August 7th, the Jazz prioritize the young guys during the season, and they try to enter the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes in the draft in 2025,” Jones said.
Here are a few more highlights from Jones’ ESPN 700 radio appearance:
- Later in his conversation with Checketts, Jones stressed that he doesn’t believe a Markkanen trade is likely to happen this offseason. Asked to rate the odds of a deal on a scale from one to 10, Jones said he’d “probably put it at a two” for the time being. “I think we’re trending toward the Jazz not trading Lauri,” he said. “I don’t think that there’s a package out there that they’re overly interested in.”
- Asked what it would look like for the Jazz to “prioritize the young guys” in 2024/25, Jones said he expects the team to start Walker Kessler over John Collins at center while also potentially starting Keyonte George at point guard and Taylor Hendricks at power forward (with Markkanen at the three). Jones added that he could see 2024 lottery pick Cody Williams playing double-digit minutes “from day one.”
- According to Jones, making sure the Jazz keep their top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick and end up in the top half of the lottery figures to be a priority for management. “I think that the front office is going to go into this with the mindset of, ‘We have to do anything we can to get a top-five pick in this draft,'” Jones said. “I believe that if the Jazz accomplish that, I think any of the top five picks in next year’s draft is a guy with franchise-level talent. … I think the Jazz realize how good this draft is. And I think they are going to act accordingly, whether they have Lauri on the roster or not.”
- Jones thinks the Jazz would have liked to move Collins and/or Jordan Clarkson this offseason, but acknowledges that both veterans will probably open the season on the roster since they haven’t generated real interest on the trade market. “You can’t trade people if there aren’t people who want to trade for them,” Jones said. “John makes a little bit too much money. I don’t anticipate the Jazz being able to trade him until the last year of his contract. Jordan Clarkson is the one that surprises me because I thought he’d have a lot more of a market this summer, but it just hasn’t materialized.”
i hope he signs with the Jazz so I will not be hearing all these ridiculous trade offers for Markkanen. Just getting tired of hearing where he is going when those trade rumors are just click bait articles.
That hurts, arc89. Coming up with Markkanen-hits-his-mark-AGAIN(!) trade talks (to Warriors) brought great joy to my life. Where do the Warriors go from here? Pivot back to Jimmy Buckets? I’m not ready to accept this could very well be the Dubs training camp roster.
Chosen Dud , I, too, don’t think Warriors go to training camp with this roster, mostly because they have too many rotation players, esp wings. It’s a recipe for bad team chemistry. New additions Hield and Melton must get minutes, as must Kuminga and Podziemski.
I an “aggregation” deal makes sense, with some combination of Moody, GP2, Wiggins and/or Looney traded for a more significant player.
Not necessarily here,
But it does seem like half of all nba trade suggestions online for 2 years running from writers online, have to do with Lauri.
Most articles begin with:
The perfect fit for whatever team.
Well.. No shiz.
A 7 foot distance scorer who can play sf,pf,c.
The Jazz just need a elite young SG prospect. Tank this year then cash in. I would be making trades right now.
Jazz just need TJ McConnell and Luke Kennard. Their type of players.
They will “do anything we can to get a top-five pick in this draft”. When it comes to getting a high pick, losing isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Lose as much as possible, and that’s all you can do.