Rival NBA teams are circling Lauri Markkanen like hungry vultures after the Utah Jazz opened the offseason by moving on from Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton. But those suitors just received some bad news: Markkanen isn’t only unavailable. Utah apparently still views him as a cornerstone—which means its rebuild could be closer to ending than anyone thought.
There are merits to trading Markkanen worth discussing. He is 28, and owed nearly $196 million over the next four years. That is not an age or contract conducive to a rebuilding franchise still looking for the face of its future.
It makes sense, then, that teams are contacting the Jazz about his availability. His play style fits anywhere, and Utah has leaned even further into the youth movement since Austin Ainge took over as team president. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, however, the Jazz are rebuffing all trade interest. Though he notes Markkanen shouldn’t considered untouchable, they are going out of their way to inform teams that they “project the All-Star forward as a key player in their future core.”
This stance, if genuine, isn’t just a referendum on how Utah feels about its best player. It suggests the team’s timeline is about to speed up.
The Jazz could be gearing up to make noise during the 2026 NBA offseason
Make no bones about it, the Jazz are going to be bad this coming season. If they don’t finish dead last in the Western Conference, well, it’s because Troy Weaver and Joe Dumars will have successfully ruined the New Orleans Pelicans.
All of which is by design.
You don’t include a second-round pick to get off Sexton, trade Collins for players you won’t keep, or just buy out Clarkson if you’re hoping to compete. Utah is cannonballing head first into development, prioritizing reps for everyone from Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier, to Kyle Filipowski and Walker Kessler, to Walter Clayton Jr., Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, and more. Next season is all about plumbing the depths of prospects and projects, and understanding what’s in place.
A high lottery pick will await at the end of it all. After that, Utah is slated for over $40 million in cap space next summer, with the ability to carve out much more—particularly if the front office doesn’t view Kessler as “a key player in their future core.”
Free agency isn’t what it was years ago, and the Jazz were never a caps-lock DESTINATION anyway. But cap space can be used to facilitate big-time trade swings. Especially when you’re sitting on a mountain of young players, and future first-round picks.
Utah’s stance on Lauri Markkanen could be incredibly revealing
Basically, Utah is set up to make real noise next summer if it pleases. While that doesn’t mean it should be added to the eventual Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, it does make this a team to watch closely over the next year or so.
Sure, the Jazz’s response to Markkanen trade inquiries could be just for-show—a way to gain leverage in talks over the coming weeks and months and entire year. But if they’re serious about making him part of the future, they’re not going to slow-play this rebuild much longer. They can’t. It’s more than three years old at this point.
Markkanen may be under contract through 2028-29, but he won’t be content with bottom-of-the-barrel finishes forever. If he’s truly part of the Jazz’s bigger picture, it’s because they’re gearing up to fast-track their situation, likely no later than next summer.