NBA Insider Shams Charania drops bombshell on Warriors trade prospect
The Golden State Warriors have been connected to Lauri Markkanen for the entire summer as they search for Steph Curry’s next running mate after Klay Thompson departed in free agency. However, that search will have to continue elsewhere as The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the Utah Jazz will extend the forward to a long-term contract.
As per the NBA Insider, the deal will be signed Wednesday or later. He wrote on X, previously known as Twitter:
“JUST IN: NBA All-Star Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz are expected to agree to a massive long-term contract extension and sign Wednesday or later, making him untradeable for entire 2024-25.”
The date of the signing is key here as Markkanen (Aug. 6) cannot be traded until next offseason. This essentially means Golden State is out of the race to sign him.
The Finnish star, whose current contract runs out next season, was one of the most wanted players this summer. This was mostly because of his team-friendly $18 million cap hit. While the exact term of the reported contract is unknown, Charania said that it will likely be more than $200 million and will be spread out across five years.
If Lauri Markkanen does end up being offered the deal and he signs it, it will be the biggest contract in the Jazz’s history. Utah, who had $33 million in salary cap space, can offer Markkanen $42.2 million for the upcoming season, the most that he can earn.
What’s next for Golden State Warriors after missing out on Markkanen?
The Golden State Warriors have been considered one of the top suitors for Lauri Markkanen ever since free agency started. However, according to reports, the Warriors were reluctant to include key young players whom the Utah Jazz wanted in the trade. That reluctance might have proven to be the final nail in the coffin, as Tuesday’s update means Markkanen is off of the market.
While Steph Curry remains steadfast in his commitment to the team, it isn’t unconditional anymore. In a July interview with Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, he said:
“And I’ll continue to make the decisions that are best for me and for my career at the end of the day when it comes to just the imagination. I want to win.
“Let’s put it this way: it’s a long-winded way of saying that if it is a situation where you’re a bottom feeder and it’s just because you want to stay there, I’d have a hard time with that. But I don’t think that’s going to be the reality.”
The Warriors are left with very few choices now. They could either run with the roster they have right now or make a last-ditch effort to sign a key contributor such as Zach LaVine. Neither scenario confirms success.
While Golden State did trade for Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson and signed De’Anthony Melton, the team is nowhere near being a contender in the West.