It’s an open secret at this point that the Golden State Warriors covet Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. The Finn has been a phenomenal player ever since he broke out into stardom two seasons ago, but the squad failed to build a strong enough team that would allow him to lead the Jazz to the playoffs.
Because of their roster-building struggles, the Warriors thought they could have a shot at landing the Finnisher. While the team’s previous attempts to sway the front office to give Markkanen up without dealing key players away have failed, they aren’t losing any hope that they would be able to bag him in the end.
However, a recent rumor may have effectively killed the team’s chances at getting him. If the report is to be believed, Markkanen may not be leaving Salt Lake City any time soon.
Utah Jazz reportedly closing in on a long-term deal with Lauri Markkanen
According to a recent piece on The Athletic authored by Shams Charania, Tony Jones, and Anthony Slater, the Jazz are ironing out the details on a potential long-term deal that would see him earn up to $200 million over five years.
The contract, should it go through, would become the most lucrative deal in Jazz history. It would also make Markkanen one of the most well-paid European players in NBA history.
Ezra Amacher of Arizona Desert Storm detailed the implications of the trade and what fans could expect to happen in the coming days:
The contract, via a renegotiation-and-extend, would take Markkanen off the trade market after talks fizzled out between the Jazz and potential trade partners. The Golden State Warriors were among the teams most interested in trading for the 7-footer.
Tuesday is the first day that Markkanen and the Jazz could reach an agreement on an extension. The deal is expected to be finalized by Wednesday, according to The Athletic.
It’s not hard to see why Markkanen would be getting such a deal from the Jazz. He averaged 23.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 2.0 APG last season while shooting 48.0% from the field and 39.9% from deep.
If Lauri will be staying with the Jazz, the front office must step up and get better players to surround him and help him lead the team to a deep playoff run.
Meanwhile, Warriors fans will be hoping that Markkanen has a last-minute change of heart.
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