During the summer of 2024, the Golden State Warriors were rumored to have interest in adding Lauri Markkanen to the roster. Markkanen would have provided size, shooting and rebounding, all areas that Golden State had struggled with in prior years. Nevertheless, Markkanen ended up signing a new contract with the Utah Jazz, and is still the team’s star player to this day.
During a recent interview with Anthony Slater of ESPN, Draymond Green detailed why he was skeptical of acquiring the 7-foot forward via trade, noting how teams rarely win a deal when Danny Ainge is sitting across the negotiating table.
“I’m a big fan of [Markkanen’s] game,” Green said. “But I think if you want to do something so huge you better be certain that this is the move. You usually don’t win those things against Danny Ainge. I look at history.”
Ultimately, the Warriors found their additional star talent a few months after missing out on Markkanen. Mike Dunleavy Jr. struck a deal with Pat Riley, sending Jimmy Butler to the Bay Area ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Butler has shone during his tenure with the Warriors and has started the new season in strong fashion, especially when getting downhill.
Markkanen would undoubtedly have been a strong addition to Golden State’s rotation. However, as Green said, you can never guarantee how a move of that magnitude will play out. Looking back, it would appear the Warriors were better served in missing out on the sharpshooting forward, as that led to the addition of Butler, and that could be the move that helps push the franchise toward another championship banner.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!