On the surface, the Lauri Markkanen situation in Utah looks relatively straightforward.
The Finnish forward is a star on an expiring contract playing for a team very much still in a rebuilding stage. The Jazz will have to make a decision that lottery teams face all the time. Does it makes more sense to trade Markkanen now in order to bottom out ahead of the 2025 draft and ensure they don't lose him later for nothing, or to hang onto the 27-year-old and attempt to sign him long-term to make him part of the core moving forward?
It's not simply a matter of choosing one course or the other though. A confluence of factors, such as the Jazz's $30MM+ in cap room, Markkanen's contract situation (including an unusually low cap hit for a former All-Star), and a series of rules in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, create added complications.
The Jazz will have decisions to make beyond just whether or not to trade Markkanen. He, in turn, will face decisions of his own, as soon as next week.
It’s not that complicated. Both the Jazz and Markkanen want to him to stay.
The whole trade market around him are formalities. Nobody can offer what he’s worth so no trade has or will happen anytime soon, it looks like. The only way that changes is if a wow offer finally comes through.
The only teams that can offer such a package haven’t been rumored to be interested enough, thus far. That could change, but I don’t see the urgency from those teams right now. Maybe next Summer that could change.
My guess is, there might be some slightly better offers that come through by the 6th, but nothing worth the Jazz giving up Markkanen for.
Jazz waste the value of Lauri – 2024-25 season
It’s only a waste if the Jazz don’t tank and get a top tier talent this upcoming draft.
Markkanen is onboard with the direction of the Jazz. That means he’s willing to stick it out and play through the adversity.
Besides, the offers have been weak and window for good offers is small. Not a good combination.
The only question will be how much money Markkanen is willing to accept and possibly leave on the table? The Jazz could front load the contract to help with that.
> It’s not that complicated. Both the Jazz and
> Markkanen want to him to stay.
The article explained how there are multiple scenarios even if Markkanen stays, so, as a Utah fan, it’s worth taking the time to read it closely.
I’m interested in whether Utah decides will go into a full rebuild or not. Obviously they will be tanking this year (so they don’t give up their lottery pick to OKC). In that case, if they begin paying Markkanen $45M-$50M this 2024-2025 season (as the article suggests), they’ll also need to pay him that in 2025-26 and 2026-27, when they will still be a non-playoff team. That makes no sense.
The article makes clear that Markkanen will sign a deal this summer and, to me, that he’ll be on the block next summer because he doesn’t fit Utah’s timeline.
Ainge has been a disaster for the Utah franchise. He’s still tanking in year 3, and that means they can’t be competitive until year 5 at the earliest, and more likely year 6.
I can see Lauri signing with Utah, Utah being horrible, Lauri getting fed up with it and then getting traded as soon as he is eligible.
Suggestion:
Rockets should consolidate 2 young talents for Lauri to manage the 2026 payroll.
Smith and Jalen Green for Lauri
(no picks are needed)
Jazz don’t want Green. Find a third team to take Green.
Markkanen would be a great fit for the Rockets.
But Green and Smith on their own wouldn’t be nearly enough. Rockets would need to add at least two firsts. Smith would be a fitting young replacement for Markkanen. Green, as you say, would need to find another team.
I can’t see Ainge being interested in Green, esp given his upcoming rookie extension, and his relatively disappointing development over his first 3 years. Houston has been trying to move Green for the past 6 months, but there are no takers. Rockets have multiple high lottery picks (AThompson, Sheppard, etc), plus other promising young players, (esp Cam Whitmore), who need Green’s minutes.
The Rockets could put together an attractive package. The Jazz could play Green this year and trade him next Summer? It’d be similar to how they end up handling Markkanen this year.
Although, I wouldn’t mind the Jazz keeping Green. He seemed to settle down and play some great basketball.
However, I’m still torn about trading Markkanen. The Jazz were very fortunate to have unlocked this beast. Why not enjoy his consistent great play for years to come?
Spurs or warriors should trade for him…
I feel if the Warriors wanted him, he’d be in San Francisco. Podz, Moody, Kuminga picks. It’s lauri markkanen.
When Markkanen and his team play the Timberpuppies in Minnesota, does/has he embraced his heritage by visiting to see the impressive statue of St Urho (Patron Saint of Finland) in Menagha, Minnesota??
To the writer of the article, this is extremely high quality content and worthy of the subscription price. I appreciate how it analyzes the possibilities from the perspective of Utah, potential acquirers, and Markkanen himself.
I’ve been tracking this for a while, but missed how much more money Makkanen can make if he waits 1 more year under his current contract. It helps to explain why the offers haven’t been stronger. Any team would be hesitant to acquire him give the certainty they’d have to wait until after this upcoming season to offer.
>. Benboy said:
I’m still torn about trading Markkanen. The Jazz were very fortunate to have unlocked this beast. Why not enjoy his consistent great play for years to come?
>
Benboy , I can understand being torn. It seems to come down to the rebuild timeline. Or is there a rebuild in going on in Utah? There are conflicting signals. Ainge set he was going big game hunting this off-season, but that hasn’t happened. Yet, at the same time the Jazz are listening to offers for Markkanen, suggesting regression to ground zero in a rebuild.
In a rebuild, you synchronize the development of your core, which means you don’t a max a player that will only have 1-2 years remaining when the young core is ready to contend. And you also don’t want to be carrying a $55M salary in 2-3 years when you want to give rookie extensions to a the young core.
Keeping Markkanen seems to make sense only if Utah believes the rebuild is done and other assets need to be acquired immediately, as Ainge reportedly tried to do with Mikal Bridges.