Breaking down the Lauri Markkanen extension situation

Lauri Markkanen is the centerpiece of the Jazz’s franchise. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

After a summer rife with trade speculation, Jazz All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen becomes eligible to sign a lengthy and lucrative extension with Utah on Tuesday. There are plenty of particulars worth examining regarding Markkanen’s earning potential on a new contract. But the most integral aspect of negotiations between Markkanen’s representation and the Jazz front office — perhaps the most critical element of Utah’s overall team build — is simply what date Markkanen actually puts pen to paper.

Utah has every incentive to lavish Markkanen with a long-term offer this week, or the Jazz would risk permitting the 27-year-old play out the final year of his current deal and test the open market next summer as a free agent. Securing Markkanen for several seasons could also increase his future trade value in one respect, as any team that would acquire Markkanen before he becomes extension-eligible this week likely would seek assurances of his interest in re-singing with that new organization.

But if Markkanen waits to sign his new deal until Wednesday or later, Markkanen won’t be eligible to be traded during this upcoming 2024-25 season. He wouldn’t be eligible to be traded for six months after his new agreement, in accordance with the collective bargaining, which would fall one day after the Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was similarly crucial for Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen to sign his extension Aug. 2, leaving him available for trade for four days prior to the deadline.

All indications, though, are that Markkanen intends to delay his signature for that exact purpose, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Markkanen was traded twice in the span of 12 months, first beginning with Chicago lording over his 2021 restricted free agency. The Bulls eventually relinquished Markkanen via a sign-and-trade that shipped the Finnish phenom to the Cavaliers on the three-year deal that is currently set to expire at season’s end. Yet following one strong season with Cleveland, the Cavaliers rerouted Markkanen to Utah as part of…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/breaking-down-the-lauri-markkanen-extension-situation-144124332.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-08-05 14:41:24

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