Two years ago, as the Golden State Warriors were seeking an aggressive upgrade to bolster a roster that clearly needed more frontcourt help–that need is something that has been borne out in the years since–there was no doubt about their target. They wanted Utah forward/center Lauri Markkanen, an excellent shooter who had shot 39.4% from the 3-point line in his first two seasons with the Jazz. As Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area wrote, “Lauri Markkanen essentially is a perfect fit for the Warriors.
Now, the Dubs could seek to go back to the well on Markkanen. That’s because Utah has real concerns about its ability to sign and maintain the contracts of Markkanen, center Walker Kessler (who is a restricted free agent) and center/forward Jaren Jackson Jr. The Jazz love how imposing that frontline could be–Kessler is 7-foot-2, Markkanen is 7-foor-1 and Jackson is 6-foot-10–but they fear how expensive it could be, too, especially if Kessler gets an offer in the $30 million range.
While letting Kessler walk has been considered the Jazz’s easiest path forward, moving Markkanen is not off the table.
Warriors May Lack Assets for Lauri Markkanen Trade
To be clear, the Jazz resisted any temptation to trade Markkanen during the season, despite some renewed interest from the Warriors (and others). But, holding the No. 2 pick in the draft and with hopes of bringing in AJ Dybantsa as their small forward of the future, the Jazz could loosen their grip on Markkanen. Health concerns–he has missed at least 20 games seven times in nine seasons–and a dip in efficiency (35.0% from the 3-point line his last two years) also are prominent.
Markkanen has three years and $150 million on his contract.
But the question for the Warriors is whether they even have the juice to get Markkanen to Golden State if the Jazz did decide to move him. Their best trade chips are the salary of the injured Jimmy Butler and draft picks, but the Jazz have no interest in Butler–there would need to be a third team–and it’s questionable whether they’d have interest in other potential Warriors pieces.
Moses Moody would make some sense, but he, too is injured and out for most of next year. There may be interest in Brandin Podziemski, but he would not have a prominent role in Utah and would not be that much of a sweetener. Expect the Warriors to make the effort–but whether they can get the Jazz to bite is another story.
Trades Could Dominate NBA Summer
The Warriors are in for a big and very interesting NBA summer–but that figures to be the case across the league.
As one league executive told Heavy: “Definitely a big summer. There is going to be a lot of movement this summer, there are going to be a lot of trades, before the draft, after the draft in July, going into August and September. There are a lot of teams that see themselves in need of a change, so you will see some bad contracts getting moved around with the hope that, new location new results. And you will see some financial moves, if you can set yourself up to get under the tax, which we saw at the deadline too.
Warriors Could Rekindle Trade Pursuit for ‘Perfect Fit’ Big Man