Lauri Markkanen will stay with the Utah Jazz for at least one more season after putting pen on paper to sign a five-year, $238 million deal with the Western Conference franchise. Although it’s a multi-year deal, the Jazz can still trade Markkanen but not before the next offseason.

Markkanen, who is currently in his home country of Finland, said in an interview with ESPN that he appreciated the trust in him and his abilities by the Jazz’s executives and Utah head coach Will Hardy.
Via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
In a telephone interview from his offseason home in his native Finland, Markkanen cited his belief in the Jazz organization for the confidence to sign the deal — including owner Ryan Smith, CEO Danny Ainge, GM Justin Zanik and coach Will Hardy.
“They’ve all showed their belief in me, from the ownership to the front office to Will,” Markkanen told ESPN. “It’s a comfortable environment and those guys’ résumés speak for themselves. I trust in the organization to help grow me as a person and a player, to build our team, and I’m ready to take on the challenge.”

Markkanen has long been included in trade rumors, with a lot of those linking him to the Golden State Warriors. But that’s not going to happen – if it happens, even – anytime soon. For now, he will look to help the Jazz again after the team finished with just a 31-51 record in the 2023-24 NBA season to miss the NBA Playoffs for the second year in a row.

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