Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Lauri Markkanen is once again facing trade rumors as the NBA offseason begins.
- Despite trade speculations, Markkanen expresses confidence in the Utah Jazz organization.
- Jazz GM Justin Zanik views Markkanen as a key player for the team's future.
SALT LAKE CITY — Lauri Markkanen's break from the trade rumors is just about over.
The Utah Jazz forward intentionally waited until Aug. 7 last year to sign his long-term extension with the team so that he wouldn't be eligible to be moved at this year's trade deadline.
Now that his season is over, though, his name is, once again, fair game.
"I feel like this year was kind of a one-off," he said of the reprieve from the rumor mill. "I'm used to it every year, so I'm ready for it. It's just a part of the business and can happen overnight."
He said he's learned to live with the rumors as he's matured in the NBA, but admitted it was "nice to have a year" when he knew it couldn't happen. As his veteran teammates had to sweat out the deadline, he could relax a bit.
Now that he's, once again, eligible to be moved, another question looms. Markkanen turns 28 next month and has never been to the playoffs. The Jazz, meanwhile, still appear to be at the beginning of their rebuild, so would he actually welcome a trade?
"I feel like what I did last summer with signing here, that kind of tells you the confidence I have in the organization and the guys we have," he said. "I love being in Utah. We'll see what happens in summer. There are things that you can't control, but I love being here, working out with the guys that we have and building this thing as an old guy."
Markkanen has been vocal about how much he has enjoyed living in Utah. It's proven to be a good place for him and his wife to raise their three children, and it's been a good match for his unassuming, private and outdoor-loving personality.
On the court, he said the "track record" of executives Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik makes it easy for him to trust what the team is doing.
"You're always grateful when your best player gives confidence in what we're doing as an organization, but also the confidence we have in him to extend him that long and at that significant amount," Zanik said.
Markkanen has four years and about $196 million left on his contract.
The 2023 All-Star admitted it's hard sometimes to remain patient as the losses pile up, but he understands the "big picture" of what Utah is trying to build — and where he fits in the long-term plan.
"He wants to win just as much as anybody, and we're grateful for it, and I've enjoyed every bit of the day that we've had Lauri on our roster," Zanik added.
Markkanen's numbers were down this season. He averaged 19.0 points per game with a career-low 42% shooting from the field. There are reasons for that — injuries, trying to develop an isolation game, the youth he was playing with — but he doesn't think there's anything to be overly concerned about.
"There are some things we can look at the film after we're done, just sit down with Will (Hardy) and kind of see what we can do better next year," he said. "A lot goes into it. So obviously just have to watch film and try to be better next year individually. But I think it's a sum of a lot of things."
He believes the EuroBasket 2025 tournament will serve as a good runway for him, too. The 2022 edition served as a launching pad to his best NBA season during his first year with the Jazz.
"In previous years, those are the years I've always felt the best, physically and mentally, to be honest, like because you're getting game reps right before the NBA season starts," he said.
But will that NBA season still be with the Jazz?
"I see Lauri as a central part of what we're doing," Zanik said. "It's why we signed him. We think he can be a huge piece for us as we join the competitive ranks."
