Latest news with #Markkanen
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Utah Jazz reportedly not looking to trade Lauri Markkanen
John Collins? Traded. Collin Sexton? Traded. Jordan Clarkson? Bought out. Lauri Markkanen? It looks like the veteran forward is staying in Utah and will not be traded, Tim MacMahon reports at ESPN. [Trading Markkanen] is not Utah's intention, sources told ESPN. It would be too much to describe Markkanen as untouchable, but the Jazz still project the All-Star forward as a key player in their future core. Advertisement While this is what a front office says when trying to gain leverage and drive up the price tag on a potential trade, in this case, there are reasons to believe Utah means it. For one thing, even if Markkanen bounces back to the form of his first season in Utah — when he was an All-Star and won the Most Improved Player award — it's not going to disrupt the clear plan for next season, which is to, how should we put this, end up with excellent lottery odds. Secondly, his massive salary — his four-year, $195.9 million contract extension kicks in this season, starting at $46.4 million — makes finding a workable trade difficult. Finally, and tied to that contract, Markkanen struggled through an injury-plagued last season, averaging 19 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but his shooting efficiency was down across the board, including 34.6% from 3-point range. Teams are going to want to see the 28-year-old regain his form. Which is to say, the Jazz are going to wait, play Markannen with their young stars like the just-drafted Ace Bailey, Kyle Filipowski (who has looked fantastic at Summer League) and Walker Kessler, and see how things shake out. At the deadline, maybe the Jazz and another team out there will feel differently, maybe not, but for now expect Markkanen to stay in Utah. Where he has wanted to be.
NBC Sports
15-07-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Utah Jazz reportedly not looking to trade Lauri Markkanen
John Collins? Traded. Collin Sexton? Traded. Jordan Clarkson? Bought out. Lauri Markkanen? It looks like the veteran forward is staying in Utah and will not be traded, Tim MacMahon reports at ESPN. [Trading Markkanen] is not Utah's intention, sources told ESPN. It would be too much to describe Markkanen as untouchable, but the Jazz still project the All-Star forward as a key player in their future core. While this is what a front office says when trying to gain leverage and drive up the price tag on a potential trade, in this case, there are reasons to believe Utah means it. For one thing, even if Markkanen bounces back to the form of his first season in Utah — when he was an All-Star and won the Most Improved Player award — it's not going to disrupt the clear plan for next season, which is to, how should we put this, end up with excellent lottery odds. Secondly, his massive salary — his four-year, $195.9 million contract extension kicks in this season, starting at $46.4 million — makes finding a workable trade difficult. Finally, and tied to that contract, Markkanen struggled through an injury-plagued last season, averaging 19 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but his shooting efficiency was down across the board, including 34.6% from 3-point range. Teams are going to want to see the 28-year-old regain his form. Which is to say, the Jazz are going to wait, play Markannen with their young stars like the just-drafted Ace Bailey, Kyle Filipowski (who has looked fantastic at Summer League) and Walker Kessler, and see how things shake out. At the deadline, maybe the Jazz and another team out there will feel differently, maybe not, but for now expect Markkanen to stay in Utah. Where he has wanted to be.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A Decision Has Been Made on Trading Lauri Markkanen
A Decision Has Been Made on Trading Lauri Markkanen originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Amid a busy offseason, the Utah Jazz have made a final decision regarding Lauri Markkanen's future with the team. The Finnish big man has been one of the best players on the roster since he joined the West team from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Advertisement Markkanen was named as a potential trade target for multiple contenders in recent seasons, including the Golden State Warriors before they traded for Jimmy Butler, the Los Angeles Lakers before they landed Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns before they completed a trade for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in a seven-team exchange. The market appears to be strong for the 2022-24 Most Improved Player of the Year, who averaged 19 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 42.3% from the field, 34.6% from deep and 87.6% from the free-throw line. The Jazz switched their approach and parted ways with several veterans, such as Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Colin Sexton, to open room for their young players. Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen© Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports on Tuesday that all those moves made people within the league wonder if the Jazz were willing to part with Markkanen, too. With Austin Ainge taking over as the primary decision-maker, some thought they could take advantage and pull off a move for the veteran. Advertisement "That is not Utah's intention, sources told ESPN," MacMahon wrote. "It would be too much to describe Markkanen as untouchable, but the Jazz still project the All-Star forward as a key player in their future core." During his eight-year NBA career, Markkanen became a one-time All-Star and a member of the 2017-18 All-Rookie Team. At 27, he's just entering his prime and if the pieces click for the Jazz, he could be ready to lead them to contend in a couple of years. Related: Jazz Coach Speaks Out on Benching Walter Clayton Jr. For Being 'Nonchalant' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
3 Best 2025 NBA Draft Fits for Rutgers Star Dylan Harper
Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2024, is coming off a superb freshman season in Piscataway, where he dazzled as an impact scorer who facilitated and made an impact on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-6 Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, four assists and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 48.4/33.3/75.0 in 29 games. He figures to be a Day-1 starter in the NBA. It's simply a matter of whether teams view him as a point guard or more of a combo guard/off-guard. While former Duke forward and 2024-25 Men's College Basketball Player of the Year Cooper Flagg figures to be selected first overall in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Harper will likely be right behind. That said, here are the top three NBA fits for Harper, among the teams selecting in the top six. 3. Utah Jazz (Pick No. 5) The Jazz have had budding young players for some time, but only so many definitive franchise building blocks. Harper would be a player whom the franchise can label as a pillar and who would form a deadly, long-term backcourt with Keyonte George. Two years ago, Utah appeared to have a franchise player in Lauri Markkanen, who was coming off a breakout season that saw him earn an All-Star nod. However, Markkanen's scoring has dropped in each of the past two seasons (25.6 points per game in 2022-23 to 23.2 points in 2023-24 to 19.0 points in 2024-25), and the Jazz were 21st in the NBA in scoring (111.9 PPG) and tied for 22nd in field goal percentage (45.4%) this season. They need offensive voltage, which Harper would provide. A backcourt pairing of George and Harper would be one of two quick, blossoming guards who can score in a variety of ways and become the heart of head coach Will Hardy's offense. In the wake of that development, defensive attention comes off Markkanen, who has been asked to carry the offensive load for three seasons. The Jazz have a guard glut with Collin Sexton and Isaiah Collier, among others, in place, but a team that just posted the worst record in the sport can't turn down the chance to add high-ceiling talent; they can draft or trade up to select Harper (Utah has picks No. 5 and 21 in the first round this year) and then make a trade with their guard depth to bolster the frontcourt. What likely stops Harper from landing in Salt Lake City, though, is him potentially being off the board before pick No. 5 (yes, Utah slipped from No. 1 to No. 5 in the NBA Draft Lottery), and the Jazz potentially feeling that drafting based on need — if value is equal — is the more plausible route, anyway. 2. Washington Wizards (Pick No. 6) Alex Sarr is a tremendous talent who can fly up and down the floor, hit the boards and deny shots like nobody's business, but the Wizards still don't have a franchise centerpiece. Harper could become that player for Washington. The Wizards were 27th in the NBA in scoring (108.0 PPG), 28th in field goal percentage (43.9%) and 29th in 3-point shooting percentage (33.5%) this season, and that came with trading Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks in February. In other words, offense is desperately needed here. Harper would have the ball in his hands a great deal, likely running head coach Brian Keefe's offense, and could play to his strengths, as he'd potentially be their No. 2 scorer behind Jordan Poole — who could easily be traded within the next eight months — from the outset. With Harper and Poole in the backcourt, Sarr becoming a more impactful interior offensive player and the continually improving Bilal Coulibaly and Corey Kispert present, the Wizards begin to have a legitimate core to build through. Having a multidimensional offensive player in Harper makes the difference. Washington would likely have to trade up from pick No. 6 to draft Harper, but it could include one of its younger guards (Bub Carrington?) and a future first-rounder in a deal to secure the Rutgers standout. The Wizards are a sweet landing spot for Harper to tap into his star potential. There's just a team that makes a little more sense for him. 1. Charlotte Hornets (Pick No. 4) The Hornets are in a rut, but they're in that spot with compelling young players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Harper may be the perfect fit in-between Ball and Miller and help Charlotte finally make a jump. Ball will continue to be the centerpiece of Charlotte's offense, but having another player who can handle the rock and be a facilitator would do wonders, as Ball can get too 3-happy. On that note, Harper could be the team's point guard if and when Ball, who has been limited to 35 games per season over the past three years due to continual ankle and wrist injuries, misses time. Having Ball and Miller — whose 2024-25 campaign ended after 27 games due to a wrist injury — healthy is of the essence, as the team's top two scorers' absence this season led to Charlotte finishing last in the NBA in scoring (105.1 PPG) and field goal percentage (43%). Their returns — or at least more availability from the two homegrown players — with Miles Bridges, who has averaged 20.5 PPG over his last three seasons, and Harper by their side, would give the Hornets a compelling starting five on the offensive end. On the Harper front, the soon-to-be rookie wouldn't be asked to come in and play hero. He can ease into the mix and not be tasked with becoming the team's offensive focal point. Harper, 19, has the talent to be at least the No. 2 scorer on a contending team, but after just one year of college ball, it's likely best for the Rutgers star to develop in a tertiary offensive role to start his career. Charlotte, which has won no more than 30 games in each of the past three seasons, needs another building block for it to complement their foundation. Harper fits the bill. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Basketball Association Rutgers Scarlet Knights College Basketball recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 players Utah Jazz must avoid in 2025 NBA Draft
The post 3 players Utah Jazz must avoid in 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Utah Jazz finished the 2024-25 season with a 17-65 record, the worst in the NBA. They were rewarded for their efforts by sliding in the NBA Draft lottery. Utah slipped four spots, walking away with the fifth overall pick while the Dallas Mavericks vaulted to the top selection. However, the Jazz are one of seven teams with two first round picks to use on June 25. Will Hardy's team already has an All-Star talent in Lauri Markkanen, but most of the roster is still yet to be determined. Advertisement Throughout the season, the Jazz handed the reigns over to their young players. Keyonte George enjoyed a career-high year as a scorer while Walker Kessler averaged a double-double across the 58 games he played in. Despite that, Utah was the worse defensive team in the league, giving up 121.2 points per game. While there are some trade rumors circling around the Jazz, their star has said that he wants to stay in Utah. Markkanen signed a 5-year, $238 million extension last summer, committing to the team. With him under contract for the next four seasons, it is up to the front office and general manager Justin Zanik to build a Western Conference contender around him. For a team in one of the smallest markets in the league, the draft is a big part of that process. Markkanen, George, and Kessler are the core of the team's long term plans. With that in mind, here are three players that the Jazz should avoid with the 5th and 21st picks. Oklahoma G Jeremiah Fears Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images In his first and only season in Oklahoma, Fears almost single-handedly carried the Sooners into the NCAA Tournament. The point guard led his team in scoring, assists, and steals while playing more than 30 minutes a game. That heavy a workload and responsibility forced the 18-year-old to grow up fast. He finished the season strong, but the UConn Huskies sent him home in teh first round of March Madness. Advertisement Fears can straight up score the basketball, that much is apparent. He topped 20 points in 12 of his 31 games as a freshman, including 31 against #15 Missouri. Those efforts, combined with his draft combine performance, have teams like the Brooklyn Nets interested in him. However, he is not on the same level as the premier prospects in this year's class. If the top four picks in the draft go as expected, the Jazz will have their pick of Khaman Maluach, Tre Johnson, and Kon Knueppel, along with Fears. Looking at the team's depth chart, Utah already has their backcourt of the future in George and Isaiah Collier. They also have veterans to hold down the rest of the guard minutes in Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson. With Markkanen staying for the long haul, the Jazz could hang on to all four this summer, leaving little opportunity for Fears to get real playing time. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis When examining this year's draft class, Kasparas Jakucionis and Egor Demin are two of the hardest prospects to evaluate. Both players bring great size to the guard position and are offensive-minded players. Jakucionis led a balanced attack for Illinois that saw them get to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement Jakucionis embraced his role as a playmaker throughout the year, notching a double-double in a first round win over Xavier. The 6-foot-6 point guard also scored 20 or more points in almost a third of his games. Offensively, he can bring a lot to whatever team selects him in the lottery. However, scouts point to his defense as a major weakness. Illinois fans were upset when Jakucionis made the tough decision to declare for the NBA Draft. Some experts were surprised as well, believing he should have stayed in college for another year to work on his defensive skills. Jakucionis' size and lack of strength make him a walking target in a Western Conference full of talented guards and wings. On a team with enough poor defenders already on the roster, the Jazz could decide that he is not worth the offensive upside. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Michigan F/C Danny Wolf Danny Wolf transferred from Yale to Michigan last summer. After experts questioned if his numbers would translate from the Ivy League to the Big 10, Wolf silenced them emphatically. He led the Wolverines to a Big 10 championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournaments. His numbers remained the same across the board, but he played one of the more unique roles in the country as his team's pseudo-point guard. Advertisement Wolf had a unique path to the NBA Draft, but it worked out for the seven-footer. He is expected to be picked later in the first round. His skillset is unlike any player in his range, making him a perfect swing-for-the-fences pick for a team looking for upside. As a point-forward, Wolf will not have to change who he is when he starts playing in the NBA. Similarly to Jakucionis, though, Wolf's problem lies on the defensive end of the floor. He and Vladislav Goldin shared the front court at Michigan, but Wolf was routinely blown by on the perimeter. In an ideal world, the Jazz want a player who can play alongside every combination of Markkanen, Kessler, and Kyle Filipowski. If Wolf is not the center in those lineups, they could suffer severely. He simply is too much of a liability on defense for Utah to ignore when deciding where to go with the 21st pick. Related: Utah Jazz's perfect outcome for No. 5 pick in 2025 NBA Draft Related: Bill Simmons brainstorms Paul George for Lauri Markkanen 76ers-Jazz trade
