Three ways Warriors can acquire Markkanen in trade with Jazz

Three ways Warriors can acquire Markkanen in trade with Jazz originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After weeks of drama, speculation and will they or won’t they between the Warriors, Utah Jazz and Lauri Markkanen, the final days, hours and minutes on the future of the rising star could be coming to a close.

Markkanen on Tuesday becomes eligible to have his contract renegotiated and extended. Any player who signs an extension cannot be traded for exactly six months, which from Tuesday equates to the final day of the 2024-25 NBA trade deadline. If Markkanen waits until Wednesday or later to sign an extension he cannot be dealt now or before the trade deadline to the Warriors or any other team.

The sharp-shooting big man is in the final year of a four-year, $67.5 million contract that has the Jazz paying him $18 million this upcoming season, a number far lower than what Markkanen would be worth on the open market as a free agent in the summer of 2025. Utah has created an abundance of salary-cap space this offseason and can pay him more than any other team.

The Jazz also are in an odd spot of having multiple young players they want to see get time on the court, yet are one of many teams that have their eyes on Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg atop the 2025 NBA Draft. Utah CEO Danny Ainge wants to win every trade by a mile, putting an incredibly high price tag on possibly parting ways with Markkanen.

Having Markkanen still in their plans could give the Jazz a cornerstone to continue building around, but also take them out of the Flagg sweepstakes.

The Warriors’ most attractive assets are Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga, as well as two unprotected first-round draft picks – a combination of 2025 and 2027 or 2026 and 2028 – and one in 2030 if it’s to land in the top 30, for a team whose superstar is a 36-year-old Steph Curry who only has two years remaining on his current contract.

Kuminga enjoyed a breakout third season that saw him average a career-high 16.1 points and currently is extension eligible on his rookie contract.

Aside from being named All-Rookie First Team, exceeding expectations and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/three-ways-warriors-acquire-markkanen-140441929.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-08-06 14:04:41

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