Lauri Markkanen trade talks between the Warriors and Jazz have hit their sticking point. Which side will blink first?
Lauri Markkanen is the biggest name left on the NBA trade market. The 27-year-old forward is being shopped by the Utah Jazz as he becomes eligible for a contract extension next month. Utah feels like a franchise at a crossroads, and its decision to keep or deal the best player on the team will define its upcoming season.
Markkanen should have a wide market for his services, but there’s been one team mentioned most frequently as a potential trade partner: the Golden State Warriors. After failing to land Paul George earlier this offseason, the Warriors are reportedly at the negotiating table with Utah over Markkanen, and a clear outline of a potential trade is starting to form. The only question is if the Warriors’ front office, now led by Mike Dunleavy, is ready to meet Danny Ainge’s asking price.
NBA insider Shams Charania laid out the sticking point in the trade talks between the Warriors and Jazz over Markkanen. Here’s his full report, via SiriusXM NBA Radio:
“The Jazz are more focused on Brandin Podziemski”@ShamsCharania breaks down a potential Warriors trade with the Jazz for Lauri Markkanen to @WorldWideWob, @Darthamin, and Ryan McDonough at #NBA2kSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/24qnyamEbN
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 16, 2024
Here’s what the Jazz are asking for in a Markkanen trade, according to Charania:
“From the Warriors perspective, if it’s Podziemski, then there’s not all the picks,” Charania said. “If it’s all the picks, then it’s not going to be Podziemski. Both sides are entrenched right now saying nothing is going to change.”
There’s one big name missing from those trade discussions: Jonathan Kuminga. The 21-year-old Kuminga is up for a contract extension this summer. Kuminga took a noticeable leap in his third year this past season, but there are still questions about his role on the team and if he fits into Golden State’s starting lineup. Kuminga figured to be involved in any Markkanen trade, so it’s interesting that the Jazz apparently don’t really want him.
Podziemski was a revelation this past season after the Warriors selected him with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He eventually replaced Klay Thompson in the Warriors’ starting lineup, and went on to be named All-Rookie First Team. Podziemski isn’t the biggest or most athletic guard, but he has an incredible knack for getting involved in plays and making a positive contribution for his team. He just knows exactly where to be at all times, and he rarely takes anything off the table with a well-rounded skill set. With three cheap seasons remaining on his rookie deal, it makes sense he’s a player Utah is targeting in trade talks.
Markkanen-to-the-Warriors is a fascinating deal on the surface for multiple reasons. The Warriors still have Stephen Curry performing at an elite level at 36 years old, and know they need to add one more big piece to give him another shot at a championship. At the same time, the Western Conference is completely loaded, and it’s possible that trading for Markkanen and depleting their future trade assets still wouldn’t be enough to get them over the top.
Can Utah really afford to hang on to Markkanen this season? The Jazz want to rebuild, and they will need a lot of losses to get in the Cooper Flagg derby at the top of the 2025 NBA Draft. Markkanen probably doesn’t fit Utah’s timeline either way, but it’s already getting crowded at the bottom in the race for Flagg.
Don’t be surprised if another team tries to get into the Markkanen trade derby. No one expected Ainge to trade Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland, or Rudy Gobert to Minnesota. The Jazz executive sets a sky-high asking price for his star players, and waits for someone to meet it. Now it’s up to the Warriors to see if they want to play ball and make one of the boldest trades of the NBA offseason.
