Rivals Expect Jazz To Trade Lauri Markkanen With Warriors, Spurs Among Interested Teams

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs reportedly have interest in trading for Lauri Markkanen this offseason with the Utah Jazz exploring his trade market. The Oklahoma City Thunder have also been linked with Markkanen previously.

“There’s some other teams that are looking at Markkanen,” said Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective Podcast on Monday morning. “I think San Antonio is one of them.”

Markkanen’s contract is fully guaranteed for just over $18 million for the upcoming season. Speculation has been that Utah could use cap space to renegotiate-and-extend Markkanen’s deal, should they not use that space to acquire players.

“The teams negotiating with the Jazz do think there’s a good chance they’re going to move him,” added Windhorst. “Sometimes, Danny Ainge will act like he’s going to do a trade then there’s no trade. Maybe that will happen again here. But the teams negotiating think so.”

Markkanen averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season. He was on the cusp of a 50/40/90 shooting season too, hitting at 48.0/39.9/89.9 clip. The Jazz are in limbo with Markkanen where they’re not quite good enough to enter the playoff picture while also not being bad enough to get to the top of the lottery.

The Jazz already own multiple future first round picks from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers.