NBA trade candidates: Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram and other players who could (still) be on the move

Your favorite NBA team probably doesn’t have much cap space. Its payroll might be up against the luxury tax or one of those annoying aprons. Maybe it can find a way to add someone like Gary Trent Jr., Tyus Jones or Luke Kennard in free agency, but, if it’s going to make a meaningful move, it’ll much more likely be a trade.

Trades can be complicated, and the new collective bargaining agreement doesn’t help in that regard. At this point in the offseason, though, there are more rotation-caliber players available on the trade market than on the free-agent market. Not everyone on this list will be traded, but there’s at least reason to believe that they could (still) be. Let’s start with the big domino that has to fall in Utah.

Markkanen mania

The Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz is a rare trade candidate: a 27-year-old star on a below-market contract. The Jazz, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, tried to pair him with Mikal Bridges and even dared to dream of adding both Bridges and Paul George this offseason, but are now considering going the other direction, just like the Brooklyn Nets did. To trade Markkanen, though, Utah would likely require a Bridges-esque haul — or even more than that.

In reports about the Markkanen sweepstakes, no team has been more prominent than the Golden State Warriors. On Monday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that they’ve proposed a package that includes Moses Moody, first-round picks, pick swaps and second-round picks, but Utah wants everything: Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moody, plus picks.

If Danny Ainge’s front office can’t get what it wants, it could simply keep him around. Markkanen is by far the team’s best player, and he’s happy in Salt Lake City. On Aug. 6, the Jazz can offer him as much as $24 million in additional 2024-25 salary (using cap space), plus an extension of up to four years worth upward of $200 million. That date is important, as it is not only the first day that they can offer the extension but the last day that he can sign it while remaining eligible to be…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-candidates-lauri-markkanen-brandon-ingram-and-other-players-who-could-still-be-on-the-move/

Author : James Herbert

Publish date : 2024-07-15 17:10:29

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