Jazz star Lauri Markkanen seems more likely to delay signing his new extension till after Tuesday so he can be sure that he received’t be traded this season, league sources inform Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Markkanen will turn out to be extension eligible on August 6, which is strictly six months earlier than the NBA’s commerce deadline. Contract extensions set off a six-month moratorium on trades, so if he waits till August 7 or later to simply accept the brand new deal, Markkanen can make it possible for he’ll spend all the upcoming season with Utah.
Veteran extensions are restricted to a 40% elevate within the first yr, so Markkanen would usually be $25,262,362 because the beginning wage in his subsequent contract. However as a result of the Jazz nonetheless have greater than $35M in cap room, they’ll renegotiate his wage for 2024-25 from $18M to $42,176,400 and begin the extension based mostly on that quantity, giving him one thing within the neighborhood of a max deal.
With the clock ticking on Markkanen’s extension eligibility, it seems much less possible that he’ll be traded earlier than he can signal a brand new cope with Utah. The Jazz have reportedly been listening to provides, however have stated they aren’t actively attempting to maneuver their All-Star ahead.
Sources inform Fischer that the Kings and Warriors have each tried to deal for Markkanen because the begin of free company. Sacramento made “important progress” in negotiations earlier than commerce talks collapsed in early July, Fischer provides. Golden State has additionally made provides for Markkanen, however Fischer’s sources say that Utah has prioritized Brandin Podziemski or Jonathan Kuminga, who’re each considered as starters for the Warriors this season.
Fischer additionally hears that the Spurs have expressed curiosity in Markkanen ever since he was a restricted free agent again in 2021, and San Antonio had hoped to amass Markkanen within the sign-and-trade deal that despatched DeMar DeRozan to Chicago that summer time. The Thunder additionally had curiosity in Markkanen on the time, Fischer provides.
Fischer factors out that Utah already has a big assortment of first-round picks and commerce swaps, so there’s restricted worth in buying extra draft property in trade for Markkanen, a 27-year-old who’s taking part in at an All-Star degree and needs to remain in Salt Lake Metropolis. Fischer believes that apart from the Kings, a lot of the commerce speak surrounding Markkanen this summer time has been “preliminary at greatest.”
Bobby Marks and Tim MacMahon of ESPN additionally study the Markkanen state of affairs, together with the prospects of a last-minute commerce. Their sources point out that the Warriors and Jazz haven’t come near reaching a deal, with one supply saying Golden State is being “very protecting” of Podziemski.