Report: Warriors, Spurs among teams interested in Jazz's Markkanen
The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are among the teams interested in trading for Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen, sources told ESPN's Zach Lowe.
The Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings are also looking to acquire the Finnish forward, adds Lowe.
However, the Jazz are hesitant to move Markkanen, The Athletic's Tony Jones reports.
After finishing 12th in the Western Conference last season with a 31-51 record, Utah would be primed to trade Markkanen if it seeks a full rebuild.
Markkanen will become extension-eligible in August and is due just $18 million next season, the final year of his deal.
Although Markkanen didn't quite replicate his All-Star campaign from his debut season with Utah in 2022-23, the 27-year-old still posted 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game on 48% shooting and 39.9% from deep in 2023-24.
Despite being 7-foot, Markkanen's lack of rim protection has pegged him at the four-spot. Alongside the Kings' Domantas Sabonis, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, and Heat's Bam Adebayo, Markkanen could slide in on any of those teams as a starting forward. He could be slated as a small-ball center in Golden State.