Tony Jones: “The Jazz do not want to trade Lauri Markkanen”

Tony Jones, beat reporter for the Utah Jazz, joined The Drive Guys to discuss the availability of Lauri Makkannen and John Collins.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Jun 12, 2024, 3:49 PM Updated: 3:50 pm

Follow on Google News

Watch: Is This The First Sacramento Kings Rebuild EVER? | 1 min

Tony Jones, beat reporter for the Utah Jazz, joined The Drive Guys, Kevin “Whitey” Gleason, and Kyle Draper, play-by-play reporter for the Sacramento Kings, this week to discuss the current state of the Jazz. Throughout the conversation, the guys dove into the potential availability of John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and plenty more.

Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz | SF/PF | Age: 27 | 2024-25 salary: $18.044 million

The 2023-24 Kings had a ton of talent, but lacked another scoring machine opposite De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. Lauri Markkanen fits those concerns.

The one-time all-star has grown massively since being traded to the Utah Jazz in 2022, becoming the franchise’s cornerstone star. He fished with a career-high 25.6 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 regular season. The Finnish star finished with 23.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG last season, showing his improved production is here to stay.

He is also a near 40% shooter from behind the arch in the last two seasons, becoming one of the best sharpshooters in the NBA. The forward enters the final year of his current deal, making a little more than $18 million next season.

Here’s the full list of accolades for Lauri Markkanen in the NBA:

1x All-Star
2017-18 All-Rookie Team
2022-23 Most Improved

When is the next NBA off-season date of interest?

The NBA Draft is now a two-night event.

Wednesday, June 26th, will act as the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Sacramento Kings will make their first-round selection (13th). The second round of the draft will be held on Thursday, June 27th, where the Kings will use its 45th overall pick.

Sacramento hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2022, when it selected Iowa product Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick.

Stay locked into Sactown Sports for all of your Kings draft coverage, including player profiles, reports regarding pre-draft workouts, draft night coverage, and much more.

When is the next NBA off-season date of interest?

The NBA Draft is now a two-night event.

Sacramento hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2022, when it selected Iowa product Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick.

Stay locked into Sactown Sports for all of your Kings draft coverage, including player profiles, reports regarding pre-draft workouts, draft night coverage, and much more.

NBA Offseason Schedule