A new twist has emerged regarding the future of Lauri Markkanen. The Finnish power forward for the Utah Jazz remains one of the most closely watched names ahead of the NBA’s February trade deadline, even as he continues to deliver the best basketball of his career.
Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz
Melissa Majchrzak
Markkanen’s outstanding play this season is one of the main reasons he has been linked in recent months with several teams looking to make a leap in quality — among them the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and even the Golden State Warriors — all hoping to boost their championship ambitions.
However, no deal materialized, largely due to the “high demands” set by Utah’s front office, now led by Austin Ainge and Danny Ainge.
Despite a difficult schedule, there is growing belief in Salt Lake City that the Jazz can compete for a play-in spot — a scenario that would require keeping Markkanen.
In fact, according to reporter Marc Stein, Utah has “moved away from the rebuilding phase” in order to push for a Playoffs berth and build a roster around the Finnish star, a strategy that has reportedly discouraged several teams from pursuing him via trade.
It is worth recalling that Markkanen signed a lucrative contract extension with the Jazz in the summer of 2024, one that has already taken effect and runs through the 2028–29 season.
Since his arrival in Salt Lake City, the franchise has been striving to regain its footing and return to the postseason, which it has not reached since the 2021–22 campaign.
This season, Markkanen has carried over the stellar form he displayed with Finland at the EuroBasket.
Through 19 games, he has raised his scoring average to 27.9 points — the best mark of his NBA career — along with 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35.5 minutes per game.