There’s already no shortage of interest on what the Golden State Warriors will do at February’s mid-season trade deadline, with the front office armed with expiring contracts and draft assets that has ESPN ranking them as the team most likely to make a big move.
That big move could come in the form of Lauri Markkanen who may legitimately become available after the Warriors strongly pursued the Finnish forward two years ago during the 2024 offseason.
Warriors have fresh reason to revisit Lauri Markkanen trade
While Markkanen still has three years left on the max contract he signed following Golden State’s initial interest, he’s been ranked among the top five hidden trade candidates according to a recent article from Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz.
A core of Peterson, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and Jackson are all 26 or younger. Markkanen, meanwhile, will turn 30 next spring and doesn't fit the timeline of this group. He's also taking a starting spot away from Peterson or Bailey, the two players with the highest ceilings on this team," Swartz wrote.
Swartz is right that after taking Darren Peterson second overall in June’s NBA Draft, the Jazz have an incredibly talented rotation that’s likely to leave recent fifth overall pick Ace Bailey coming off the bench to open the season. That’s not really ideal given the franchise’s investment in Bailey, and Utah aren’t about to turn around and trade Jackson after giving up three first-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade prior to February's deadline.
That could leave Markkanen as the piece to cash in on, giving Bailey the opportunity for a bigger role in the starting frontcourt while continuing to build future assets which could come in the way of Golden State’s valuable draft capital.
Warriors better equipped to satisfy Jazz in Lauri Markkanen trade
The Warriors are arguably better placed now to satisfy the Jazz in a trade than they were two years ago. Utah have a big hole at center after letting Walker Kessler go to the Los Angeles Lakers in a massive sign-and-trade at the start of free agency, and one that could be filled by veteran big man Kristaps Porzingis. While a short-term solution, Porzingis could hold value to the Jazz as an upgrade on Jusuf Nurkic if he can prove healthy early in the season.
Golden State would also have to include Draymond Green’s expiring contract which, combined with Porzingis’ flexible salary, equates perfectly to the $46.1 million Markannen will make this season. The Warriors would also have to throw in draft capital which appears more valuable than it did two years ago given Stephen Curry is closer to retirement.
The Warriors will have surely continued to monitor Markkanen’s status in Utah after their initial pursuit two years ago, and the 30-year-old’s inclusion on Swartz' trade list provides another reason to believe a deal could be revisited.
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