Warriors’ Lauri Markkanen trade offer gets complicated update

The Golden State Warriors were dealt a major blow this offseason when they lost Klay Thompson to free agency. They’ve tried to recoup as much as they can with some solid free agent signings. But the biggest trade domino the Warriors are trying to knock down may be Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen.

Markkanen may or may not be on the trade list, but that hasn’t stopped the Warriors from making inquiries. But what could be holding back a potential Lauri Markkanen trade between the Warriors and the Jazz is the limitations of the Warriors’ potential offer, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Jones reports that “Golden State has an offer on the table and it’s substantial (for Lauri Markkanen). I think the offers are based largely on picks… What complicates the situation is that the Warriors only have two unprotected picks, plus a protected first-round pick.”

Markkanen is one of the NBA’s rising stars, and it’s fair to wonder if this combination of picks will be enough for the Warriors to entice the Jazz to make a trade. The recent trade between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets involving Mikal Bridges included four unprotected first-round picks to the Nets. Markkanen is arguably a better player than Bridges.

Markkanen is one of the most sought-after players on the trade market this offseason. He was an All-Star in the 2022-23 season, his first with the Jazz. Last season, Markkanen played in 55 games at just over 33 minutes per game. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 48% field goal percentage, 39.9% three-point shooting and 89.9% free throw shooting.

Warriors seek to remain competitiveinterest for the 2024-25 season

The Warriors may have lost Klay Thompson this offseason, but they still have Stephen Curry on the team. Curry’s current extension runs through the 2025-26 season. It’s in line with the recent extension signed by head coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors owe it to Curry to field a competitive playoff team.

Acquiring Lauri Markkanen would be a good move for the Warriors, but it’s unclear if they’ll be successful in moving him. In the meantime, the Warriors made some key free-agent signings that should help the team next season.

The Warriors have completed deals with De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson and also completed a trade deal to acquire Buddy Hield. While neither of those players are Thompson, their combined impact should help offset Thompson’s production to some extent. Before the Warriors pursued Markkanen, they considered a potential trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul George.

Last season, the Warriors missed the playoffs after losing to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in round. The previous season, they beat the Kings in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.