Golden State Warriors have made a ‘substantial’ offer to Lauri Markkanen, according to a report

As the Golden State Warriors head into the 2024-25 season, their offense will likely look completely different than it did over the past decade.

Among the moves the Warriors made were the addition of Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton, but none is as significant as the departure of Klay Thompson, who is joining the Dallas Mavericks via a sign-and-trade. Thompson played in Golden State for 13 seasons, his entire NBA career to date.

But the appetite for more trades may still be there. The Warriors have set their sights on Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who is rumored to be available in trade talks.

According to Tony Jones, who covers the Utah Jazz for The Athletic, the Warriors made an offer for Markkanen that Jones described as “substantial.” Jones suggested there were still hurdles to clear, saying, “What complicates it is the Warriors only have two unprotected picks, plus a protected first-round pick,” during an appearance on 95.7 The Game.

Markkanen is a highly sought-after player, with the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings also expressing interest according to another report.

One of the things that made Thompson so effective and the Splash Brothers so deadly was the dual threat they brought to the offense. While the Warriors hope Buddy Hield can be a threat as a three-point wing, he likely won’t draw defenders as much as Thompson did. Last season, Markkanen averaged 23.2 points on 48.0 percent shooting and 39.9 percent from three-point range.