Jazz unlikely to trade Lauri Markkanen amid Warriors commotion – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The Lauri Markkanen trade has taken a new turn — and it doesn’t benefit either the Warriors or the Kings.

Golden State and Sacramento have been at the center of trade speculation regarding the Jazz forward, with reports describing the Warriors as the “aggressor” within both teams after the 27-year-old’s services.

However, Utah is “running its business with a 10 percent chance of moving him,” Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fisher reported Wednesday. (Quoted from Bleacher Report))

There are several reasons why the Jazz are reluctant to lose Markkanen and why the Warriors, Kings and San Antonio Spurs have all expressed interest in the Finnish star.

NBA All-Star and MVP Award Winner Most Improved Player Award 2023Markkanen averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 48 percent field goal shooting and 39.9 percent from three-point range in 55 games with Utah during the 2023-24 NBA season.

Fisher added that the Kings, who, like the Warriors, appear to be looking for a forward who can make a difference this season, were recently close to securing a trade for Markkanen.

“The Kings were close to a deal earlier this week, as far as I know,” Fisher said on Wednesday’s episode of the “No Cap Room” podcast. “I think so, based on the conversations I’ve had. I can’t say more than that, but there were calls I had with people in the NBA that would indicate that the conversations were legitimate there.”

Golden State hasn’t been sitting still in the Markkanen deal, with reports suggesting they’ll acquire prolific scorer Buddy Hield in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 31-year-old will add scoring skills, but the Warriors will likely continue to look for pieces to complement star playmaker Stephen Curry after the departure of Klay Thompson.

It might be tough to add Markkanen to coach Steve Kerr’s roster, but on the other hand, the offseason is still young, and it would be unwise to write off the Warriors.

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