SUMMARY
- The Utah Jazz secure a 125-108 victory over Brooklyn Nets.
- Utah’s front office seeking potential trade offers for Lauri Markkanen.
The Utah Jazz, 10-17, are standing at No. 12 in the Western Conference after their recent win against the Brooklyn Nets, 125-108. There were some players who helped the team secure this win, and among them was the second-year star forward, Lauri Markkanen. He amassed 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Getting his hands on a double-double, the player is still surrounded by trade news as Jazz fails to remain afloat with the approaching playoffs.
It’s no secret that Utah’s front office is eyeing a potential trade offer, repeating the same history as they did with Rudy Gobert. However, Markkanen seems to have had one of the best seasons of his career right now, averaging 23.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and shooting 48.9% from the paint. The recent statement by Markkanen depicts his unwillingness to be traded.
Lauri Markkanen’s reported availability in trade talks is a reflection of a modern NBA reality, writes @sam_amick.
But if Utah’s star had his way, he would be sticking with the Jazz.
More from Markkanen, unplugged ⤵️https://t.co/t9CSwHSEjN pic.twitter.com/HJBqdv9WgU
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) December 18, 2023
The Jazz star had a recent conversation with Sam Amick of ‘The Athletic’ and made a shocking revelation. Markannen said, “Sometimes I knew about it. Sometimes I didn’t. So I kind of learned the business side of basketball. I’ve kind of learned to just go day by day and really put the work in and try to play to the best of my abilities and whatever happens happens, really.”
Underlining the fact that getting so many trade offers is a compliment to the stellar numbers that he is putting up, the player loves to play alongside Utah. He added, “Like I said, I love being in Utah. But yeah, I just want to emphasize that I really believe in what we’re building here with the Jazz.”
Will Lauri Markkanen leave the Utah Jazz?
Although the trade talks are at an all-time high, the team won’t trade ‘The Finnisher’ before the February 8 deadline, as many teams are planning to trade in the 7-foot sharpshooter. The star forward/center inked a four-year contract with the Jazz, worth $67.5 million, and will be making $17.3 million this year. Although the player has a partially guaranteed salary worth $18 million for 2024–25, the value is less than his actual worth if the franchise decides to trade him.
🤩 it’s an All-Starkkanen Saturday 🤩#NBAAllStar | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/jlJH5OQ10w
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 18, 2023
The Jazz can build a core team around ‘Magic Markkanen’ and can stand as a potential contender in next season’s playoffs. However, the team might consider Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk, John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Talen Horton-Tucker as potential players to be traded, if not Markkanen. While the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks might be the interested teams, it all depends on Danny Ainge as to what the final call will be.