Many NBA teams are convinced that the Utah Jazz want to keep Lauri Markkanen instead of trading him, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
“Difficult as it can be for rival teams to read the intentions of a front office that now houses Austin Ainge as well as Danny Ainge, more teams than not that we speak to are increasingly convinced that the Utah Jazz are more likely to try to add to their Lauri Markkanen-led core this Trade Season rather than trade Markkanen away,” Stein wrote.
Markkanen is off to a terrific start this season. He’s averaging 28.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field, 36.0% from beyond the arc and 90.0% from the free-throw line.
The Arizona product is 12th in the NBA in points per game.
Markkanen is making $46.4 million this season. He signed a four-year, $195 million extension with the Jazz in 2024. It was a renegotiation-and-extend deal.
Utah is 6-13. Markkanen has never been to the playoffs, which is why many people around the NBA believe the All-Star big man should request a trade.
However, Markkanen has never thought about requesting a trade from the Jazz, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.
“The rumors already started, but I don’t pay attention to that. Pretty much anybody can get traded in this league,” Markkanen said at the beginning of the season. “So you just play to the best of your abilities, and enjoy the practices and games and time I get to spend in this facility and with these guys. And if something happens, then we adjust.”
The 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year, Markkanen has played for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz. He has career averages of 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.