Warriors' Rejected Offer To Jazz For Lauri Markkanen Revealed
The Golden State Warriors have been actively pursuing a trade for Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen this offseason. They aim to reload following the departures of longtime star Klay Thompson and future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul. However, their hopes of acquiring the 7-foot big man may have ended after Markkanen agreed to a new contract with Utah, making him ineligible to be traded for six months.
With the NBA's trade deadline for the 2024-25 season falling on February 6 and the 27-year-old's signing verbally confirmed but not yet completed as of August 6, he is essentially locked in with Utah for the upcoming campaign.
The Warriors' final offer to the Jazz for Markkanen fell short of Utah's asking price. Despite having several attractive assets to trade, they did not fully go all-out. According to The Athletic, Golden State's final offer included shooting guard Moses Moody, multiple first-round picks, pick swaps, and second-round picks.
The Jazz wanted to receive incoming second-year guard Brandin Podziemski in the trade package, but the Warriors were firm about not including the 21-year-old in the deal. Forward Jonathan Kuminga is also a player with a high upside who could've sweetened the Dubs' offer, but despite being part of most mock trades, he was a glaring omission in their final proposal.
The exact terms of Markkanen's new contract with the Jazz have yet to be revealed, but it is said to be worth around $200 million for five years.
Warriors' High Expectations For Brandin Podziemski
Podziemski was a pleasant surprise contributor for the Warriors in the 2023-24 season after being selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Wisconsin native averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 26.6 minutes per game over 74 games, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
According to league insider Shams Charania on The Pat McAfee Show, the Warriors' top brass insisted on keeping Podziemski despite the opportunity to acquire Markkanen, a top player in his prime at his position. They believed in Podziemski as their "guard of the future."
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