{"id":84081,"date":"2024-07-01T17:56:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T21:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=84081"},"modified":"2024-07-01T17:56:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T21:56:42","slug":"warriors-teams-pursuing-trade-breakout-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/01\/warriors-teams-pursuing-trade-breakout-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors Among Teams Pursuing Trade For Breakout Star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While the Golden State Warriors <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/01\/breaking-golden-state-warriors-star-joins-title-contender-klay-thompson-dallas-mavericks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">let a piece of their dynasty go<\/a> after terse contract negotiations, they haven\u2019t given up on maximizing their championship window with face of the franchise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/curryst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephen Curry<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019ll do this sign-and-trade\u2026 they\u2019ll get back essentially a trade exception from Dallas,\u201d reports ESPN\u2019s Adrian Wojnarowski. \u201cBut they\u2019ve been trying to aggressive in other places\u2026 one player that a number of teams have tried to target: Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Warriors trying to land Lauri Markkanen out of Utah; per <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@wojespn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A lot of the teams who lost out on Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn have transferred over, trying to see if they can land Lauri Markkanen out of Utah, Golden State is one of those teams&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>[h\/t <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ohnohedidnt24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ohnohedidnt24<\/a> ] <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Vndaei7ieg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Vndaei7ieg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 BASKETBALL ON \ud835\udd4f (@BASKETBALLonX) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BASKETBALLonX\/status\/1807850240919155122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cUtah\u2019s not sure it wants to trade him,\u201d Wojnarowski continues. \u201cBut they have to listen and they\u2019ve been listening&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst believes that the San Antonio Spurs are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/espnradio\/newyork\/podcast\/archive\/_\/id\/3634017\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">also in on<\/a> the Markkanen sweepstakes.<\/p>\n<h2>Warriors Pursuing Lauri Markkanen Trade<\/h2>\n<p>As Markkanen\u2019s fit with the Warriors and Spurs is so obvious, the fact that both teams would be willing to make a hard run at him is understandable. However, because this trade indicates a full-on rebuild for the Jazz, Utah\u2019s preferred package would include substantial draft capital.<\/p>\n<p>If that\u2019s the case, San Antonio is in a much stronger position than Golden State in trade negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>The Spurs have 10 first round picks through 2028, including four in the 2025 NBA Draft. For comparison, the Warriors will have just four in that same time span and \u2014due to the Stepien Rules \u2014would only be able to send the Jazz two of those. True enough, Golden State could land an additional first-round pick if they were willing to trade for Chicago Bulls star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lavinza01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach LaVine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\u201cThere is no market for Zach Lavine. They are trying to give him away and attach a first round pick. I\u2019ve been told that by multiple, multiple people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(via <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BobbyMarks42?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@BobbyMarks42<\/a>) <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IcpNq8BgV0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/IcpNq8BgV0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Trade Deadline (@_TradeDeadline) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_TradeDeadline\/status\/1807426419615576316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Yet, even that wouldn\u2019t give them enough firepower to compete with San Antonio\u2019s offer.<\/p>\n<p>Utah could always accept the cap relief that the Warriors offer though. With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kuminjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/looneke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevon Looney<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moodymo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Moses Moody<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paytoga02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gary Payton II<\/a> on expiring contracts, the Jazz could free $30.5 million in cap space next offseason. That could allow the Jazz to have upwards of $50 million in cap space to attract restricted free agents like Houston Rockets center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sengual01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alperen Sengun<\/a> or Orlando Magic forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wagnefr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Franz Wagner<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word on Lauri Markkanen<\/h3>\n<p>In either case, there\u2019s gamble involved.<\/p>\n<p>The first round picks may not land high enough for them to draft a marquee prospect <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/08\/duke-blue-devil-cooper-flagg-compares-to-nba-superstar\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">like Duke\u2019s Cooper Flagg<\/a> or Rutger\u2019s Ace Bailey. Teams will also be loath to trade those players considering their upside. On the other hand, the prospects that they do select might not be what they expected.<\/p>\n<p>In free agency, the young stars that they might want to sign could choose to stay with their team. That\u2019s if their teams were to let them leave anyways. To that point, Sengun and Wagner appear to be in solid situations. Both are on up and coming teams who see them as integral to their success.<\/p>\n<p>Sengun\u2019s spot may be less secure due to the Rockets\u2019 desire to acquire a big man who excels defensively. Wagner may want to step out from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banchpa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paolo Banchero<\/a>\u2019s ever-growing shadow. Yet, they \u2014like any other free agent \u2014aren\u2019t guaranteed to stay anywhere.<\/p>\n<p>All of this leads to the possibility that the Jazz might be better off keeping Markkanen. With their assets, they can continue shifting their pieces to build around him. Because of the skillset that makes so many teams see him as a fit, Utah has a multitude of options.<\/p>\n<p>Besides, there aren\u2019t many players as productive as Markkanen. Since being traded to the Jazz, the 27-year-old has averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game on .490-.395-.885 splits. A seven-foot sharpshooter, he\u2019s a relatively unique weapon considering that he\u2019s more of a true big man than Phoenix Suns supernova <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the Golden State Warriors let a piece of their dynasty go after terse contract negotiations, they haven\u2019t given up on maximizing their championship window with face of the franchise Stephen Curry. \u201cThey\u2019ll do this sign-and-trade\u2026 they\u2019ll get back essentially a trade exception from Dallas,\u201d reports ESPN\u2019s Adrian Wojnarowski. \u201cBut they\u2019ve been trying to aggressive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":84102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[24,1608,25,62,34,4721],"tags":[4293,4127,926,4774],"class_list":["post-84081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jazz","category-basketball","category-warriors","category-nba","category-spurs","category-trade-rumors","tag-alperen-sengun","tag-franz-wagner","tag-lauri-markkanen","tag-rumors"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}