Report: Jazz ‘willing to listen’ to trade offers for Lauri Markkanen
Dec 15, 2023, 4:30 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 25: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings defends Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of a game at Delta Center on October 25, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer reported that the Utah Jazz are “willing to listen” to offers for NBA All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, who teams believe is “no longer untouchable” in trade talks.
Lauri Markkanen reportedly not “untouchable” in Jazz trade talks
The NBA reporter detailed the interest of opposing franchises in the Finnish forward in an article published on Friday, December 15.
“Lauri Markkanen has indeed emerged as a fascinating, albeit unlikely trade candidate before February’s buzzer,” Fischer wrote.
He explained that the Jazz “held designs” of competing with the top teams in the Western Conference after Markkanen’s first-career All-Star nod last season. However, the Jazz did not pull off trades for Damian Lillard or Jrue Holiday during the offseason.
Utah has gotten off to a slow start this season and currently owns a 9-16 record, which is good for the fourth-worst spot in the West standings.
The team’s start to the 2023-24 campaign has prompted “several teams to phone Utah’s front office in order to gauge its willingness to move Markkanen,” sources told Fischer.
Fischer added that Markkanen has been a “true favorite of Jazz officials, sources said,” and Utah is “by no means expected to trade” the forward.
However, the reporter said that the Jazz “indeed left opposing executives with the sense that Markkanen is no longer untouchable in trade conversations, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
Latest for @YahooSports: Emptying the notebook on usual trade suspects like Zach Lavine, Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby. But with a lack of clear sellers, several teams have indeed called Utah and learned a surprising change in Lauri Markkanen’s status https://t.co/LLCWBsn0fj
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) December 15, 2023
After this season, Markkanen will have one season remaining on his current four-year contract. Markkanen will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2024-25 season.
“There’s a sentiment among cap strategists that Utah perhaps won’t consider Markkanen’s next salary point a worthwhile cost if the Jazz are so far from the playoff picture with Markkanen as their best player,” Fischer wrote. “It would surely take a massive haul for some team to pry the 26-year-old from the Jazz.”
One NBA general manager told Yahoo! Sports that he doesn’t expect Markkanen to be dealt unless a great offer came Utah’s way, something akin to the package the Minnesota Timberwolves presented the Jazz with regarding Rudy Gobert in 2022.
“Do I expect Utah to trade Lauri? No,” the GM said. “They are saying they’re willing to listen. They are willing to listen to calls on everyone, but it’s a matter of meeting their price like Minnesota did for Rudy [Gobert].”
League personnel believes Lauri Markkanen is no longer untouchable and Utah would be willing to listen to trade offers, per @JakeLFischer
League personnel believes Sacramento, Atlanta and OKC would show interest in Markkanen
(Via https://t.co/JaNYs4G7cB) pic.twitter.com/KsSAHA0R91
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 15, 2023
Fischer continued by stating that Markkanen’s status “already has and will continue generating significant buzz around the league” if the Jazz keep listening to offers.
“It would be front-office malpractice not to at least understand what it would take to land Markkanen,” Fischer said.
The NBA reporter shared that three teams are believed to “value” and have had early talks with the Jazz surrounding Markkanen.
The Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, and Oklahoma City Thunder are the preliminary “suitors” for Markkanen, per Fischer.
He added that in addition to Markkanen, the Jazz are reportedly listening to offers for Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk, John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Talen Horton-Tucker.
It's believed that Utah is open to trading Collin Sexton, per @TheSteinLine
“Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and Kelly Olynyk, for starters, are frequently mentioned by rival executives as players Utah is believed to be willing to trade.”
(Via https://t.co/M3PuAN4wbj) pic.twitter.com/K91f1HsqRJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 15, 2023
Fischer singled out rookie Keyonte George as a player the Jazz aren’t taking calls on.
Lauri Markkanen this season
This season, Markkanen is averaging 23.7 points per contest on 48.7 percent shooting, including 39.0 percent on three-pointers. Markkanen also averages 8.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 33.5 minutes per game. He’s played in 16 games this season.
Markkanen is currently the league’s 21st-highest scorer per game in 2023-24.
say hello to our (not so) little friend 👀🇫🇮💥#TakeNote | @Markkanenlauri pic.twitter.com/3aoZIXkkpu
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 14, 2023
Since November 22, the forward has missed nine of Utah’s last 10 games as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.
This story was originally published by SactownSports’ sister station, KSL Sports. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
