Lauri Markkanen has been clear from the start — he loves it in Utah and wants to stay there and be part of what the Jazz are building.
“We love to be here,” Markkanen said at his exit interview. “I’ve said it multiple times and my family likes to be here.”
Markkanen has the power to ensure he stays in Utah for another season, and he’s going to use it — he is expected to delay signing an extension with the Jazz until Wednesday (Aug. 7) at least, which will make him ineligible to be traded at the NBA February trade deadline, league sources told NBC Sports (which echoes the reporting of Andy Larsen at the Salt Lake Tribune, Jake Fischer at Yahoo Sports, and others).
Markannen is eligible to sign an extension on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and if he does it that day he could be traded on the day of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, Feb. 6 (there is a six-month waiting period to trade a player after he signs an extension). By waiting a day to sign the extension, Markkanen makes himself ineligible to be traded until after next season (around the 2025 NBA Draft would be the earliest).
There are plenty of teams interested in the 27-year-old All-Star 7-foot forward who averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds a game last season. Golden State showed considerable interest, but Utah’s president Danny Ainge wanted either Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski, plus multiple first-round picks and more, a price too high for the Warriors. The Kings also reportedly had interest.
Markkanen’s new contract will not diminish trade interest in him (if anything, it gives the teams trading for him the security of knowing he will be around for several seasons). The Jazz are expected to use their cap space to give Markkanen a big raise from the $18 million he will make next season, although how much that is remains to be seen. He could sign a four-year, $231 million extension, although the actual number is expected to be below that (but Markkanen could end up making $50+ million a season by the end of this new deal).
Trade interest will not disappear, and Markkanen does not fit well with the Jazz’s rebuilding timeline. The trade rumors around Markannen aren’t going anywhere, but he will be around for at least another year in Utah.
