Lauri Markkanen would be a valuable addition to the Golden State Warriors, but talks between them and the Utah Jazz have stalled for now.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported that discussions about Markkanen have reached an impasse.
“Not much has changed for the Golden State Warriors in the past several days of a quieting free-agency period,” Slater wrote on July 9. “They remain in pursuit of Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, league sources confirm, but have entered the waiting period of what could be a drawn-out process.”
Slater mentioned that the Sacramento Kings were also in talks for Markkanen but shifted their focus to DeMar DeRozan due to a “time crunch,” and he compared the Kings’ urgency then to the Warriors’ situation now.
“The Warriors are not operating with that type of urgency. They’re willing to wait for an answer on Markkanen, believing a level of clarity will arrive on Aug. 6, at the latest, considering the contractual dynamics.”
In that case, the Warriors have time to consider what they would offer for Markkanen if Utah relents before then.
Lauri Markkanen May Extend With Utah
Slater added that with Markkanen’s contract set to expire in 2025, many around the league believe he and the Jazz will agree on an extension.
“Markkanen, as several have chronicled, becomes extension eligible on Aug. 6. He’s on an expiring $18 million contract and due for a large long-term raise. There are several within the league who have grown more convinced that the Jazz, after exploring Markkanen’s trade market, plan to renegotiate and extend Markkanen, using their saved-up cap space,” Slater wrote.
Slater then outlined the potential problem for the Warriors if an extension is agreed upon.
“That would take Markkanen off the table for six months if the extension is signed on Aug. 6, bringing him back into the mix on Feb. 6, the exact date of next season’s trade deadline. If Markkanen waits to extend an extra day, Aug. 7 or beyond, he’d be ineligible to be traded next season, an extra bit of leverage for Markkanen and an added layer of information to dictate Utah’s ultimate decision on his future.”
If that’s where the situation is headed, the Warriors are running low on options for adding a star. Markkanen is 27, has made an All-Star team, and he’s inexpensive. There aren’t many players available for trade who fit that profile.
Leave a Reply