Lauri Markkanen plans to sign massive extension after Aug. 6

Lauri Markkanen plans to sign massive extension after Aug. 6

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has been one of the hottest names in the trade market this offseason. The Golden State Warriors were consistently his most aggressive suitor–along with the San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings, reportedly–though nothing gained traction.

Markkanen, entering the final year of his four-year, $64 million deal with an $18 million cap hit, became eligible to sign an extension Tuesday. According to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Anthony Slater plus Jazz insider Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Jazz are expected to reward Markkanen such extension–projected to be worth up to $200 million over five years–adding an interesting caveat to the trade buzz surrounding the Finnish forward.

According to the report, the deal won’t be signed until Wednesday, Aug. 7 or later–meaning that Markkanen, 27, can’t be traded for the entirety of the 2024-25 season.

By signing the extension, he wouldn’t be able to be traded for six months. The 2024-25 trade deadline falls on Feb. 6, exactly six months after Aug. 6; thus, any extension signed after Aug. 6 means the six-month deadline would occur post-deadline, making him ineligible.

We probably won’t know the full story, but the reported interest for Markkanen surrounded Golden State’s second-year guard Brandin Podziemski (plus draft capital). Danny Ainge isn’t one to lose trades–or want to lose trades (who does?)–so nothing appeared to come to fruition.

Any $200-plus million extension for Utah would begin by converting cap space into his current $18.0 million cap hit. He averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last year on 48.0 percent shooting, including 39.9 percent from 3-point range and 89.9 percent from the free-throw line.

He’s one of the best shooting big men in the league, and those come at a premium. He’s a 7-foot sharpshooter who runs off screens and spots up like he’s 6-foot-6 while rebounding at an above-average level. Markkanen is a player well worth investing in–it’s now a matter of how Utah, a bottom-feeder in the West, chooses to build around him.

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