Warriors' trade offer for Lauri Markkanen revealed as deal hits sticking point with Jazz

Lauri Markkanen is the biggest name left on the NBA trade market. The 27-year-old forward is up for sale to the Utah Jazz as he becomes eligible for a contract extension next month. Utah feels like a franchise at a crossroads, and its decision to keep or sell the team’s best player will define its upcoming season.

Markkanen should have a large market for his services, but one team has been mentioned most often as a potential trade partner: the Golden State Warriors. After failing to land Paul George earlier in the offseason, the Warriors are reportedly at the table negotiating with Utah over Markkanen, and a clear outline of a potential trade is starting to form. The only question is whether Warriors management, now led by Mike Dunleavy, is willing to accept Danny Ainge’s asking price.

NBA insider Shams Charania laid out the sticking point in the Warriors-Jazz trade talks over Markkanen. Here’s his full report, via SiriusXM NBA Radio:

Here’s what the Jazz are asking for in a Markkanen trade, according to Charania:

Brandin Podziemski
3 unprotected first round picks
3-4 unprotected choice exchanges
3-4 second round picks

“From the Warriors’ perspective, if it’s Podziemski, then there’s not going to be all the choices,” Charania said. “If it’s all the choices, then it’s not going to be Podziemski. Both sides are entrenched right now and saying nothing’s going to change.”

There’s one big name missing from these trade discussions: Jonathan Kuminga. The 21-year-old is in line for a contract extension this summer. Kuminga made a notable jump in his third year last season, but questions remain about his role on the team and how he fits into Golden State’s starting five. Kuminga was expected to be involved in any Markkanen trade, so it’s interesting that the Jazz apparently don’t really want him.

Podziemski was a revelation last season after the Warriors selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He eventually replaced Klay Thompson in the Warriors’ starting five and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. Podziemski isn’t the biggest or most athletic guard, but he has an incredible knack for getting involved in plays and making positive contributions to his team. He knows exactly where to be at all times, and he rarely takes anything off the table with a well-rounded skill set. With three cheap seasons remaining on his rookie contract, it makes sense that he’s a player Utah targets in trade talks.

Markkanen’s arrival to the Warriors is an intriguing deal on its face for a number of reasons. The Warriors still have Stephen Curry playing at an elite level at age 36, and they know they need to add another big piece to give him another chance at a title. At the same time, the Western Conference is loaded, and it’s possible that a trade for Markkanen and depleting their future trade assets still won’t be enough to move them over the top.

Can Utah really afford to keep Markkanen this season? The Jazz want to rebuild and will need a lot of losses to qualify for the Cooper Flagg derby at the top of the 2025 NBA Draft. Markkanen probably doesn’t fit Utah’s schedule, but the race for Flagg is already starting to fill up.

Don’t be surprised if another team tries to get in on the Markkanen trade derby. Nobody expected Ainge to trade Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland or Rudy Gobert to Minnesota. The Jazz executive has set a high asking price for his star players and is waiting for someone to match it. Now it’s up to the Warriors to see if they want to play along and make one of the boldest trades of the NBA offseason.