According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Miami Heat are expressing interest in adding Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen.
The Miami Heat are showing interest in Lauri Markkanen, per @ZachLowe_NBA pic.twitter.com/yQVgQjdejq
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 5, 2024
Recently, Markkanen’s name has appeared in numerous trade rumors, with teams like the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings also having interest in adding the one-time All-Star. However, according to Deseret News’ Sarah Todd, it is likely that the Jazz are gauging Markkanen’s market as opposed to actively shopping him.
I wouldn’t categorize the Lauri situation as the Jazz “shopping” him. There are interested teams that are gauging what it would take to get Markkanen away from Utah.
I stand by the idea that the Jazz don’t WANT to trade Lauri, but if they get a godfather offer, it’s possible.— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) July 3, 2024
Markkanen has spent the last two seasons of his career with Utah after his trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. In that time, the Finnish native was selected to one NBA All-Star team and won the Most Improved Player award during the 2022-23 season. During his Jazz tenure so far, Markkanen has averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Miami Heat Have Interest in Former NBA All-Star
Do the Jazz Plan on Keeping Lauri Markkanen Long-Term?
At the start of Free Agency, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer shed light on Markkanen’s status with the Jazz. Furthermore, Fischer essentially echoed what Todd previously said. According to Fischer, the Jazz are “welcoming calls on Markkanen.” However, it does not seem like the team is desperate to move on from him.
“The Jazz are indeed welcoming calls on Markkanen, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Perhaps Utah will ultimately exact a similar offseason to that of Brooklyn, where the Nets once envisioned adding star-level talent alongside Mikal Bridges before determining their best course of action was to enter a rebuild — thanks to a massive haul from New York. The Jazz, as previously reported at Yahoo Sports, were looking into trading for Bridges, held conversations with Atlanta about both Dejounte Murray and Trae Young, sources said, and were working to assemble a group around Markkanen that could have possibly drawn George’s eye.”
Additionally, Fischer notes that the Jazz still have interest in working on a contract extension with Markkanen next month.
“This latest round of Markkanen trade conversations could very well just be the Jazz trying to gather information from interested teams, or an effort to solicit some kind of exorbitant offer akin to the five first-round picks, plus an additional unprotected pick swap from the Knicks for Bridges. The Jazz have so far indicated to various parties around the NBA they would still like to renegotiate and extend Markkanen when the two sides become eligible to do so in August, sources said, and that listening to offers for Markkanen is just part of doing good business.”
The Last Word on Lauri Markkanen
Acquiring Markkanen could be a good move for the Heat. Last season, Miami finished with a 46-36 record and ended as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, they lost to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in five games in the first round. With Jimmy Butler‘s future with the team still unclear, it is important for the Heat to maximize their championship window now. And if they can poach him from Utah, Markkanen could help the team do that.
