The Golden State Warriors’ pursuit of All-Star big man Lauri Markkanen has carried into August.
Markkanen is eligible to sign an extension with the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, but it’s reportedly unlikely he will do that as he looks to gain some control over his NBA future.
Read more: Lauri Markkanen Reportedly Unlikely To Sign Extension With Jazz
At 27 years old, Markkanen is set to earn the biggest payday of his career. However, he may not want to do that with Utah depending on his career priorities.
The Jazz find themselves in the midst of a rebuild and are likely multiple years out of contention. Markkanen, the best player on a 31-51 Jazz squad a year ago, is under one more year of team control before he’s set to hit free agency next offseason.
With his contract set to expire next offseason, Markkanen has been one of the most talked about trade candidates all offseason long. The Warriors have been linked to Markkanen all summer, and as his extension-eligible day nears, they remain interested.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Tim MacMahon published an article on Monday discussing Markkanen’s offseason. They revealed that the Warriors have been the “most aggressive suitor” for Markkanen, but there appears to be one big roadblock in the discussions.
“The Golden State Warriors have been the most aggressive suitor for Markkanen, but Utah and Golden State have not come close to getting a deal done,” Marks and McMahon wrote. “One source told ESPN the Warriors have been ‘very protective’ of second-year guard Brandin Podziemski, the player on Golden State’s roster who most intrigues the Jazz. Golden State has also not indicated an inclination to meet the Jazz’s high threshold for draft compensation in return.”
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The Jazz and Warriors are clearly off in their ideas of compensation for Markkanen. Moreover, the Warriors appear unwilling to discuss second-year guard Brandin Podziemski, despite Utah’s desire to make him the headliner of a package.
Read more: Warriors Consider One Player Off-Limits in Trade Talks for West All-Star
According to reports all offseason long, the Warriors would be interested in a package headlined by guard Moses Moody with picks. However, the Jazz want to get Podziemski and picks as the headliner, with Jonathan Kuminga likely off the table.
There’s no rush for the Warriors to consummate a deal, especially if Markkanen declines to discuss a contract extension with Utah. However, Golden State will likely continue their pursuit of Markkanen as they look to make a splash acquisition during the waning years of Stephen Curry’s career.