Warriors consider Brandin Podziemski off the table in Lauri Markkanen trade talks

The Utah Jazz have been mostly in circles this offseason, outside of being a destination to temporarily accept contracts for a draft entry, as they just did with Russell Westbrook. The Jazz seem oddly attached to their only All-Star talent, Lauri Markkanen, who has emerged as the top remaining trade target on the board this summer.

Fresh off replacing Klay Thompson with three lesser players in Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, the revamped Golden State Warriors were touted as one of the top clubs hoping to add Markkanen to truly unleash a shooting-heavy attack in 2024-25 and return the team to relevance in the Western Conference.

In a new conversation on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium revealed that there is one particular young player on the Warriors roster that could intrigue a reluctant Jazz front office to possibly facilitate a deal for Markkanen.

“I don’t think the Jazz want to part ways with Lauri Markkanen,” Charania revealed. “But if the Golden State Warriors put together a Brandin Podziemski and — from what I’m told — three first-round picks, three or four unprotected pick swaps, three or four second-round picks…”

Learn more: Warriors’ trade offer for Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen revealed: report

A 21-year-old shooting guard, Podziemski was selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Santa Cruz. The 6-foot-1 point guard quickly made his way into the Rookie of the Year race, eventually landing on the league’s All-Rookie First Team this spring. He averaged 9.2 points on .454/.385/.633 shooting to go along with 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.8 steals per night in 74 games (28 starts) for the Warriors (46-36).

“From everything I’ve heard, the Jazz are more focused on Brandin Podziemski and him being in the deal (and) all the picks being in the deal,” Charania added. “And I think from the Warriors’ perspective, (if) it’s Podziemski, then there’s not all the picks, and if it’s all the picks, then there’s no Podziemski.”

Markkanen has emerged as a unique three-level scorer with the Jazz after inconsistent seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s a 7-foot-4 who can put the ball on the floor and shoot from anywhere. The Finnish star could facilitate Golden State’s five-and-out attacks and could be a particularly well-equipped partner for Warriors superstar All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry.

“Both teams are kind of entrenched where they are right now. I’m not saying nothing’s going to change,” Charania said. “Only time will tell. But I think the Jazz are very comfortable with the idea of ​​extending Lauri Markkanen, and at that point, you’ll see more potential suitors interested in him — not just teams thinking, ‘Okay, we can re-sign him.’”

Utah seems content to lose, and lose big, in 2024-25. So why hang on to Markkanen, who at 27 is a player entering his prime and knows how to win now?

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