Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen is drawing interest from multiple teams across the league, but the club reportedly has no desire to make the nine-year NBA veteran available for a trade.
Jazz To Build Around Lauri Markkanen
NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Tuesday that Utah intends to build around Markkanen in the years ahead. If the sources are accurate, that should put the trade rumors to bed.
“What they want to do, ideally, they have a ton of cap space this summer,” Scotto said. “Use it to make the roster better. If they’re going to be in the lottery this year, they hope that’s the last time for the foreseeable future where they can start to build this thing.
“Re-sign Walker Kessler, but wait until you use the cap space. Lauri draws a ton of interest around the league, but right now, Utah wants to hold onto him.”
Reporting on Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen, including which teams NBA executives have linked the most with past trade interest, why Utah wants to build with him, and what’s next this summer for their cap space and the future of Walker Kessler with @ChrisShearnYES on @YESNetwork. pic.twitter.com/BXhSImXF2z
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 16, 2025
Last month, NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported more of the same.
“Difficult as it can be for rival teams to read the intentions of a front office that now houses Austin Ainge as well as Danny Ainge, more teams than not that we speak to are increasingly convinced that the Jazz are more likely to try to add to their Markkanen-led core this Trade Season rather than trade Markkanen away,” Stein wrote.
Markkanen, who turns 29 in May, was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft out of the University of Arizona. The Jazz acquired Markkanen in the 2022 trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Utah Acquired Markkanen From Cavs
Markkanen spent his first four seasons with the Chicago Bulls and one with the Cavs before getting dealt to Utah. The 7-foot-1 wing was named the 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player after averaging a career-high 25.6 points with Utah.
Through 24 games (all starts) this campaign, Markkanen is averaging career highs of 27.8 points, 1.0 steals, and 35.3 minutes per outing while shooting 46.9% from the floor and 35.2% from 3-point range.
In 47 games (all starts) last season, Markkanen averaged 19 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 31.4 minutes per contest with a shooting line of 42.3/34.6/87.6.
He missed nearly half the season due primarily to a lower back injury.
Last August, the Jazz offered Markkanen a four-year, $195.86 million renegotiation and extension, allowing him to sign the deal to make him ineligible for trade before last season’s deadline.
Per Spotrac, Markkanen is earning $46.39 million this campaign and is slated to make as much as $53.53 million in the 2028-29 season, the final year of his deal.
