Report: Jazz ‘Determined’ to Build Around Lauri Markkanen Long-Term
After being placed in a few whispers and speculation leading up to this NBA trade deadline, it looks as if the Utah Jazz aren’t planning to let go of their All-Star forward anytime soon.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Jazz are committed to building around Lauri Markkanen as the “face of the franchise” long-term and expected to re-negotiate and extend his current contract as soon as this summer.
If true, this should provide some exciting news for Jazz fans. Since arriving in Utah last season as a part of the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell deal, Markkanen has been a critical piece to retooling this roster. He also managed to take home the NBA's Most Improved Player, along with his first All-Star appearance in 2023.
During his second season with the franchise, Markkanen has averaged 24.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on an incredibly efficient 49.7/39.7/87.5 splits.
It can be easy to see how a player with the skill set of Markkanen could be the next face of the Jazz franchise. Lauri is a legit seven-foot forward, possessing the ability to score at all levels of the floor, defend effectively at the rim, and do a number on the glass. When you have a player like that in your hands, it's going to be difficult to let him go.
Earlier this season, we began to see rumors involving Markkanen’s name in some minor trade talks with opposing teams gauging what it would take to bring in the 26-year-old’s services. However, it was practically viewed as a futile effort to pry him out of the hands of CEO Danny Ainge, with a return of a Gobert-esque package being the expectation.
Now, any trade involving Markkanen would be borderline impossible to pull off. Utah is currently riding on a six-game win streak while being the winningest team through 2024, largely due to The Finnisher. The Jazz forward also may be in for his second-straight All-Star appearance come February, depending on how the votes shake out in a hotly-contested Western Conference ballot.
The focus for this front office now shifts toward the offseason, where the Jazz can lock up their star forward for years to come.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and X.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live streams!
