Utah Jazz Pros and Cons of Extending F Lauri Markkanen

The Utah Jazz have a tough decision that lies ahead.

It wasn't long ago that the Utah Jazz's re-signing Lauri Markkanen this summer to a max contract extension was a formality. Utah’s best player was coming off an All-Star year, followed by a strong first half of the 2023-24 season. Utah was trending upward, and Markkanen was a must-re-sign for a small market franchise that struggles to lure top-tier free agents. But what a difference a few weeks make.

Utah is on a 10-game losing streak, and for the second straight season, Markkanen is proving that being a durable player isn't exactly his strong suit. So, what are the pros and cons of extending Markkanen to a long-term deal? Let's examine.

The argument for keeping Markkanen long-term is pretty straight forward. Although winning a championship isn't in the cards if he’s your best player, an argument can be made that he can be a Robin to a Batman.

Markkanen has been fantastic when he's on the court. He's averaging an efficient 23.7 points while hauling 8.2 rebounds per contest. He's one of the best catch-and-shoot three-point shooters in the league, provides length on defense, and is a good teammate.

If Markkanen doesn't secure his bag in Salt Lake City, another franchise will certainly take a chance on a player with a tough-to-find skill set. He's only 26 years old, and a new contract will run through the prime of his career.

Lastly, beggars can't be choosers. If Utah doesn't re-sign their All-Star, it could be years before another player of his caliber lands in Salt Lake City. Players like this don't grow on trees.

Just like the argument to re-sign Markkanen is straightforward, so are the reasons to part ways. Markkanen’s lean frame is proving to be a problem for the rigorous demands of the NBA, and he takes a beating as the primary focus of the offense.

The most games he's played in a season was 67 in his rookie year. He's missed 43 games over his two years in Utah, and that's not going to cut it, considering that getting hurt has been an issue in the past. These are big concerns, but a larger problem is Utah’s championship window.

Utah has regressed this season due to the trade deadline deals, and Markkanen may not fit into Utah’s championship window. Would Utah be better served to tank the 2024-25 season and acquire more draft capital moving forward?

Although it would still be a long shot, landing Cooper Flagg in the 2025 draft would certainly increase by trading Markkanen and throwing in the towel to start the season rather than at the trade deadline. It would be another year of pain for Jazz Nation, but it may be the only path to acquiring a juggernaut of a player like Flagg. He's going to be a real difference-maker.

Conclusion

From this point of view, the jury is still out on Markkanen’s future. The Jazz can wait another year to decide, but doing so risks losing Markkanen to free agency in the summer of 2025.

I don't believe in tanking a season. First, it doesn't guarantee anything. The best the Jazz could do in a tanked season is getting a 14% chance of landing Flagg. Whether they take their foot off the gas or not, the Jazz need to get extremely lucky to obtain a generational talent in the draft.

Markkanen is too good to trade at this stage. Let's see how the start of next year plays out first. If the Jazz are trending upward, roll out the red carpet for their best player. If Utah continues its downward spiral, the Jazz will be forced to take another step backward by trading their only All-Star player during the Will Hardy regime. 

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