Teams are reportedly circling the Utah Jazz in an effort to acquire one-time All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen.
Speaking Saturday on SportsCenter, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t Evan Sidery of Forbes) said the Jazz want to keep Markkanen and sign him to a contract extension this summer, but teams are being “aggressive” in their pursuit of him.
Wojnarowski added that the Jazz had been in on the Mikal Bridges sweepstakes, but after the Brooklyn Nets traded him to the New York Knicks instead, opposing teams are wondering if they may sell off pieces rather than trying to build around Markkanen.
The 27-year-old Markkanen is set to enter the final year of his contract in 2024-25, and Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported Friday that the Jazz are “expected to prioritize” signing him to an extension.
Utah acquired Markkanen has part of the blockbuster deal that sent guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and while Mitchell has been great for the Cavs, it can be argued that Markkanen has been just as good for the Jazz.
In his first season in Utah, the 7-footer from Finland was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, as he averaged 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.0 three-pointers made and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.
He followed that up with another strong campaign in 2023-24, averaging 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers made and 2.0 assists, although he missed 27 games due primarily to a shoulder injury.
Markkanen’s production suggests he may be in line for a max extension, but it remains unclear if the Jazz are willing to give it to him.
Some team in the NBA likely would be, although Wojnarowski noted that it will take a “great, great deal” to pry Markkanen out of Utah.
The Jazz already have a bounty of draft capital in the coming years thanks to the trades of Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, so while it never hurts to have more picks, the Jazz would arguably benefit more from locking in a foundational player like Markkanen.
But given that Markkanen is arguably the best shooting big man in the NBA, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that the Jazz could receive an offer that is too good to refuse.