The Golden State Warriors have shown a keen interest in acquiring Utah Jazz All-Star big man Lauri Markkanen since July 1, and this interest remains strong despite a recent slowdown in trade activity.
According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Golden State is still actively pursuing Markkanen and is currently in a “waiting period” in trade discussions with Utah. This period of inactivity is expected to last until at least August 6, the date when Markkanen becomes eligible for a contract extension.
Slater’s report indicates that the Jazz are not in a hurry to trade Markkanen. There is a prevailing belief within NBA circles that the Jazz will likely offer the 2017 No. 7 overall draft pick a significant extension rather than trade him.
Additionally, The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that both the Kings and Warriors had made “substantial” offers for Markkanen. However, Utah’s lack of urgency led the Kings to shift their focus from Markkanen to DeMar DeRozan. The Kings successfully acquired DeRozan, a six-time NBA All-Star, on Monday through a three-team trade involving the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.
For the Warriors, the August 6 deadline for Markkanen’s extension eligibility is not a pressing concern. As per Slater, Golden State is willing to wait and see what decision the Jazz ultimately make regarding Markkanen.
Markkanen, standing at 7 feet tall, is a versatile forward who averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds over 55 games for the Jazz last season. Over his seven-season NBA career with the Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers, Markkanen has averaged 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds across 403 games. He shot 48.0 percent from the field last season and holds a career shooting percentage of 45.9 percent. From beyond the arc, he made 39.9 percent of his eight attempts per game last season.
As the situation stands, unless there is a significant change in Utah’s strategy, speculation around Markkanen’s potential trade is likely to continue until the first week of August. Fans and analysts should brace for an extended period of uncertainty as both teams navigate this pivotal moment.