Jazz traded three first-round picks for former Bulls Lauri Markkanen: Report Originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Former Bulls Forward Lauri Markkanen is receiving significant interest on the trade market this offseason, according to a recent report from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
So much so that an anonymous team offered the Jazz three first-round picks for Markkanen.
“Utah is currently leaning more in the direction of keeping Markkanen, who wants to remain with the franchise and receive a long-term extension, despite receiving an offer that included three first-round picks, sources said.” Siegel wrote on Tuesday.
According to the report, the Warriors and Spurs have shown legitimate interest in the Jazz. The report confirms that the Spurs would be interested in offering Markkanen a long-term contract.
Markkanen, 27, is scheduled to make $18.4 million next season in the final season of his four-year contract, according to Point of attention. He will be eligible for an extension in August and could earn a four-year contract worth more than $200 million.
This all comes three years after he stopped playing for the Bulls. In August 2021, the Bulls traded him to the Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade. In return, the Bulls received Derrick Jones Jr. and a 2022 first-round draft pick.
Just over a year later, the Cavaliers sent Markkanen to the Jazz as part of the trade to sign Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland. Unexpectedly, Markkanen took off in Utah, where he posted 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 49.9 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent shooting from three-point range in his first season.
Since that first season, Markkanen has earned the league’s Most Improved Player award, along with his first career All-Star nod. He has since averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this season on similar shooting percentages.
Whether or not any team will trade him remains to be seen, but multiple reports indicate there is significant interest in the former Bulls forward.