2 days Ago By Zach Buckley
Among casual NBA fans, Lauri Markkanen might be one of basketball's forgotten stars. Among league executives, though, he might be the next needle-mover who could reshape the championship chase if his trade domino ever drops. To be clear, word has been pretty consistent out of Salt Lake City that the Utah Jazz aren't looking to move Markkanen.
They are, however, "listening," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Sports Center (h/t RealGM). While the list of would-be Markkanen suitors isn't a short one, Wojnarowski reported the Golden State Warriors are on it. Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer added the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves to the list, though he did so with the caveat that the Jazz "have so far indicated.
..they would still like to renegotiate and extend Markkanen when the two sides become eligible to do so in August.
" Fielding offers, Fischer continued, "is just part of doing good business." Of course, fielding offers is only one step away from accepting one, so the right trade package could absolutely get a deal done. And if someone winds up winning the Markkanen sweepstakes, it could have league-wide ramifications.
Name recognition hasn't done much for Markkanen. He is a one-time All-Star who has played his best basketball on a couple of lottery-bound clubs in Salt Lake City. His time in the NBA spotlight is effectively nonexistent.
Don't mistake that for a lack of high-end talent, though. He is a skilled 7-footer with very few holes in his.
