Lauri Markkanen was on the Utah Jazz’s trade block last year before the team ultimately gave him a five-year, $238 million extension, which kicks in at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
While Markkanen is expected to stay long with the Utah Jazz because of his lucrative contract, there’s a chance that the team might consider fielding trade offers for him this year, depending on how the upcoming campaign pans out.
“By the way, Utah… Team Finland Lauri Markkanen, oh my God. He’s back. If that guy shows up in Utah for the first few months of the season. Sexton, gone. Collins, gone. Clarkson, gone. The writing’s on the wall,” Zach Lowe said on his podcast.
“If that dude rebuilds his trade value, because he’s got a big contract over a lot of years. He is the most interesting trade candidate in the NBA in the next three, four months, if this continues, and if Utah loses as much as I expect them to lose,” he concluded.
Utah Jazz News: Lauri Markkanen is balling for Finland in 2025 FIBA EuroBasket
Lauri Markkanen is a huge reason why Finland are through to the knockout phase of the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket. The Utah Jazz forward helped Finland to a 3-2 record, good for the third spot in Group B.
It’s not surprising that Markkanen is among the competition’s leading scorers. The 28-year-old Vantaa native averages 25.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.8 steals on 44.7 percent shooting from the field across five appearances.
Finland will need Markkanen at his best tomorrow when they face the Nikola Jokic-led Serbia in the Round of 16.
