A report earlier this week indicated that the Warriors and Spurs are considered the most serious trade suitors for Lauri Markkanen, but they’re not the only teams in the running for the Jazz forward, as Tony Jones of The Athletic confirmed on Wednesday during an appearance on Sactown Sports 1140 (Twitter video link).
“Sacramento is very interested. Sacramento has what the Kings think is a strong offer on the board,” Jones said (hat tip to Bleacher Report). “But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what the Jazz think. Utah’s stance on Lauri is the same and it has been the same for a long time: We don’t want to trade Lauri, so you’re going to have to make us trade him.”
In the latest episode of the No Cap Room podcast, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (YouTube link) also mentioned the Kings as a legitimate suitor for Markkanen.
“The Sacramento Kings, to my knowledge, earlier this week were close to a deal. I do think that, based off of conversations I’ve had,” Fischer said. “I can’t say more than that, but there were calls made to people around the NBA that would have indicated that talks have been legitimate there.”
Utah pursued Mikal Bridges before Brooklyn agreed to send him to New York and envisioned adding more impact talent in free agency if they were able to land the Nets’ standout three-and-D forward and pair him with Markkanen, according to Jones. But with Bridges off the board and no obvious opportunities left to upgrade the roster in the short term, Jones wouldn’t be surprised if Utah pivots to trying to keep its top-10 protected pick in a strong 2025 draft.
Still, that wouldn’t necessarily mean trading Markkanen. As Jones points out, even with the former All-Star on the roster, the Jazz project to be among the worst teams in a competitive Western Conference, so they could extend him while continuing to add and develop young talent around him.
Rival teams, recognizing that the Jazz could benefit long-term from leaning even further into their rebuild, are pursuing Markkanen in the hopes of convincing Utah to make a deal, but the price will be high. A previous report suggested the return would probably have to be similar in value to what Brooklyn got for Bridges (four unprotected first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap, and one more lightly protected first-rounder, with only expiring salary attached).
The Warriors and Kings aren’t in position to offer that many draft picks, but they have young players who could be included to strengthen their bids (though Sacramento reportedly remains resistant to including former No. 4 overall pick Keegan Murray in any deal).
“There’s been a lot of noise the last few days and that’s because teams have ramped up,” Jones said. “They’ve actually put tangible offers on the table. Sacramento has a tangible offer on the table; the Golden State Warriors have a tangible offer on the table. The San Antonio Spurs, they’ve expressed a lot of interest.
“To my knowledge, 20 teams around the league have called one way or another about Lauri in the offseason for the Jazz. Interest obviously is there, obviously the noise is there. It’s just a matter of does it meet Utah’s threshold? And it’s going to be a very, very high threshold to have to meet to get the Jazz to trade him.”
Fischer agreed that actually prying Markkanen out of Utah will be difficult.
“I’ve still been told that Utah prefers to keep Lauri and renegotiate and extend him,” he said. “They can’t do that though until August 6, so why not spend the next month fielding offers, and telling the Kings, ‘Yeah, we’d do it if you give us Keegan Murray,’ and telling the Warriors, ‘Yeah, give us three picks and Podz (Brandin Podziemski) and whatever.’ … It doesn’t hurt to listen.
“I still don’t think he’s going to get traded. As someone told me (Jazz general manager) Justin Zanik told them, Utah is conducting their business with a 10% chance they’re going to move him.”
Lauri has said to like Utah as a place to live. Utah is not a top Free Agent Place. Utah already has a bunch of picks. They have let talent leave because of a roster crunch.
They have gotten Boozer, who left LeBron to play for the Jazz. They got Bojan who left the Pacers when he was the primary scorer.
They got Rudy Gay when the Lakers wanted him. They signed Johnny Juzang when he was considered the top free agent undrafted player that year.
They got Fonntechio when he was considered the top Euro free agent. They signed Yurtseven before and now Drew Eubanks this year already. Not flashy yet needed.
The point is they get plenty of free agents. They just don’t sign the prima donnas who think they’re better than everyone else.
The truth is, people are prejudice and say the dumbest things about Utah that they’re clearly are ignorant about.
Wow what a bunch of future Hall of Famers you mentioned! Yurtseven, eubanks, Juzang… all teams were craving these free agents but the almighty Jazz got them. Just shut up and stop embarassing tourself
Pure snobbery. My point is that people overgeneralize when talking about free agents and Utah. They get what they need.
But hey, ignore the big ones to make your point, jmthebigg (overcompensating much? Lol)
You just hurt your case Ben
Big surprise, coming from another pessimist. I’m guessing this is your alt account.
Utah are the Hawks of the West …….
Give back your name. I was NO the city. I’d sue to get my name back.
A travesty indeed. If Utah wants a musical name, they should choose choirboys.
That’s a new one. Lol
Utah no Jazz
Hey now. If we do trade the FinnisHer sum ones team will be that much closer to being a Finals Finisher via Who’s Tall?; the Jazz R
Well, of course the Utah franchise has the legal rights to the Jazz name so there is no legal way to change that. Now, when NO gave the Hornets name back to Charlotte they did take public submissions for new names, I submitted the Stormin’ Mormons. Now, if the franchise had picked that, then maybe some kind of trade could have been worked out.
I’d pay to get it back.
I don’t get why a city. A major city. Wouldn’t want their own identity in naming their sports franchises.
Well the give them the Lakers name then…
Exactly, sometimes the names don’t make sense but they become iconic. Most Jazz fans never even think twice about it. It’s usually only outsiders, primarily New Orleans’ fans, that say it.
The New Orleans owner moved the team to Utah and should’ve changed it then but didn’t. Utah and Jazz both have four letters and you don’t think of anything else but basketball when you say the name.
Plus, it’s been 50 years now so I doubt it’ll ever change.
The Hawks wish they were the Jazz. The Utah Jazz did have the 2nd best winning percentage over the last 50 years until these last couple of years. Now I’m hearing they’re top 4.
But no championships.
True, but the Utah Stars of the ABA won a title, before the merger with the NBA. The ABA was said to have the better athletes and big names like Dr.J.
Sounds like Danny Ainge is spreading a bunch of rumors to generate a market. No one is offering a Bridges package here. Lauri is an outstanding player but he has limitations that Bridges do not. Plus the Knicks are in “win now” mode so overpaid. The teams listed here are not competing for a championship with or without him so they won’t mortgage the future.
Spurs have by far the most to offer in terms of picks but we know they won’t overpay. Plus no one is doing this unless he agrees to extend now.
Nobody is going to go all in for somebody that can be a free agent after this year. Ainge is trying to get somebody to over pay. There are also reports Utah is trying to sign him and keep him too.
I’m assuming the Jazz would negotiate the extension or the new team would get reassurance from Markkanen that he would before pulling the trigger.
Although, some of these trade proposals I’ve seen haven’t been that great. The only one I’ve liked so far are from the Kings, offering Keegan packages.
You (understandably) don’t watch a lot of Jazz basketball. Lauri is better than Bridges. Bigger, more dangerous offensively (he’s had nothing to play with in Utah). And getting better defensively.
Better ????!
You obviously do t watch Bridges play.
Bridges and Markkanen are different players.
Bridges is a great 3 and D guy, but with an awkward jump shot. Improved his offense. I’m sure he’s worth those draft picks.
Markkanen is rated as the top catch and shoot 3 guy with an impossible shot to block. He’s also a much better rebounder. He’s a decent defender who can guard 3-5. He’s a proven scorer at all 3 levels. First guy ever to get 200 threes and 100 dunks in a single season. He’s also worth those draft picks the Nets received.
He’s made an all star team, Bridges hasn’t. Lauri is the best if not one of the best big man shooters in the league and is only getting better
All-star teams are nothing but a popularity vote. They always place the popular players at the top. Wiggins was voted in because the warriors fans went crazy
Seamaholic: You are most definitely wrong – but I respect your loyalty. No GM in the league would trade Bridges even up for Lauri – buy both are outstanding players.
Lauri is better than and a more important player than Bridges.
Any team taking him will want to edit past Aug 6 and only take him after extending.
Knicks want to win now, but so do many NBA teams who are on the cusp and where Lauri could make all the difference.
More important …..?????
Gotta love fanaticism ……
Jake Fischer is legit. He’s been saying it a lot more recently as well.
A lot of Jazz fans don’t want to trade him but understand if they get a haul for him.
Warriors make sense.
The Warriors don’t have 4 1sts to give up.
Who says they want 4? It literally says in the article: “telling the Kings, ‘Yeah, we’d do it if you give us Keegan Murray,’ and telling the Warriors, ‘Yeah, give us three picks and Podz (Brandin Podziemski) and whatever.’ … It doesn’t hurt to listen.”
Give us Jonny Minga and we’re going somewhere positive as a franchise
Spurs, make it happen. Wemby plus Lauri for the next 6-7 years.
Only if the Spurs get him at a reasonable price. We’re not giving Utah more than a decent player and two first rounders. We have the Atlanta Hawks picks in 2025 and 2026. Those will not be available.
Kuminga, Podz, either Moody or GP2, and a 2027 or 28 first. Take it or leave it, Danny.
Why would you want to make the team worse?
Because Markkanen would fit the ‘win now’ mode better than K-P-M. And Dunleavy has added some intriguing pieces who could negate the losses from this trade idea. Personally, I’d rather give up Wiggins than Kuminga, but if you think about how this new roster would mesh with Markkanen, Wiggins might complement Markkanen’s style of play better than Kuminga.
Ok but the article here states: “telling the Kings, ‘Yeah, we’d do it if you give us Keegan Murray,’ and telling the Warriors, ‘Yeah, give us three picks and Podz (Brandin Podziemski) and whatever.’ … It doesn’t hurt to listen.”
Why give up the entire team for 1 year of Lauri? They want Podz + 3 picks, no Kuminga, no Moody. Where is the massive overvaluing even coming from? This site? The articles say they don’t want THAT much for 1 year of Lauri!
Is Markkanen going to be comfortable at the 5? Which Wiggins will show up? Are they going to get enough scoring from the 2? A lot of ifs.
It’s all hypotheticals – nothing to get too riled up over, Davey J. Markkanen’s probably not gonna be a Warrior. But if it DOES happen? I mean…..heck…..even I might go set off some illegal fireworks!!
Golden State would never make that trade. Lauri is good but he’s not a superstar.
Mostly hoping they don’t, but if they want Markkanen that much and there are other serious bidders for his services……then yeah….
Randle Robinson 3 firsts for Markkanen and Kessler
That does not work financially. Lauri is going nowhere, Danny is just playing smart ass as always, just messing around. He does not even wants to win, he prove that last 2 seasons and right know they have like 60 million in room that are not using. They could sign DeRozan in 2 yrs 50 million if they want and is a good fit, actually is the only team that can offer DDR a kind of contract like that. Players still without a contract need to lower their requirements otherwise they can be surpringsily out of the NBA
The Jazz were trying to fast track the rebuild but likely didn’t offer enough for say Bridges, for example. I’m guessing they were only halfheartedly offering, like you suggest.
DeRozan is too old to fit their timeline. Plus, they only have just under $40M in cap space currently. They also have a few vets they could trade, if they needed to.
They could just redshirt Markkanen this year and go for Cooper Flagg then add vets next year.
Why would Utah make that deal? They would not want Randle and his contract (2yrs/60mil left) would be hard to move right now. Kessler is younger, healthier, cheaper, and arguably better than Robinson.
Hey Gary, I told you Podz was on the table instead of Moody! Moody is a KEEPER to build around, Podz+3 picks can go for 1 year of Lauri!!
Gary who? How can you build a team if you get rid of 3 1st? One year of Lauri? Might as well trade Curry and Draymond.
@Giants74 garywarriorsredsox who replied to me dozens on times telling me Podz is untradeable and the next Lebron? Gaslighting much? Instant way to earn a mute.
You made no sense at all here, are you drunk ? I am a Warriors superfan and cannot stand people who hate them, like you. Muted!
Why would Utah want to trade Markkanen? Utah has one of the lowest payrolls in the league, a lot of good young talent and a lot of draft picks in the future. Utah is in a great position to get better quickly.
They don’t necessarily want to trade him but until he signs a contract extension they are going to listen to offers in case someone wants to make them an offer they can’t refuse.
Danny Ainge has proven to be shrewd.
Nobody looks to build around a guy, and when failing on a single target, does a 180 and tries to trade him. Maybe the notion sells, but it’s not rooted in reality.
Justin Zanik says there’s a 10% chance they trade him.
Warriors are out now. Spurs won’t overpay – my guess this sits until February
What makes you say the Warriors are out? The Hield deal doesn’t prevent them from trading for Markkanen if that is what you are thinking.
Warriors can 100% trade Podz and 3 firsts for Lauri today and it would go through for both sides or be added to that megatrade that’s unfolding that includes Hield.
And they wonder why the Chicago Bulls are losers. They gave away Markkanen for nothing. No major free agent will sign with them. They had a chance to trade Drummond to the Knicks at the deadline for three #2’s, pass we’ll get nothing for him too. I could go on and on.
Podz is the W’s future forward, post Steph. I’m thinking his shots start going down next season; certainly the season after. The Ws love him, so he’s not going to be traded. Frankly, in a way, Kuminga’s skill set doesn’t mesh all that well with the Ws style of play. I can see them including him in a package for Markannen. And Kuminga is a great talent who will only improve! The Ws have a lot of future first round picks. They’re going to need them, as Steph and Dray near retirement. so they want to keep these picks, However, Suddenly they also have a wealth of good role players on friendly contracts, as well as Kuminga, Moody, Trace Jackson Davis. There’s your haul, Danny Ainge.
I dunno if you guys have seen the latest workout videos from Markkanen, but his arms are huge now! Last year he had issues with his shoulder, so it seems he made that an even bigger strength now. I predict Markkanen is going to have another great year! So no more trade offers please and thank you. =) lol