Jazz future plans are painfully obvious after Lauri Markkanen signing

The Utah Jazz locked up Lauri Markkanen. He was set to make $18.0 million in the final year of his contract, but the franchise kept cap space open to renegotiate and extend him. It allows the All-Star forward to get more money next season and keeps him on a long-term contract.

Markkanen has been in trade rumors for months and several teams are not happy about how this deal went down. By waiting, Markkanen cannot be traded this season. The deadline is on Feb. 6, but he has a six-month restriction. The Jazz have their All-Star forward and the noise will quiet for now.

This contract should come as no surprise. Markkanen wants to be in Utah, but the franchise’s plans are incredibly obvious with how this went down.

Lauri Markkanen will be back in trade rumors in the 2025 offseason

The Jazz have Markkanen for this season, but the seven-footer does not fit their timeline. Utah is rebuilding and has seven players 23 or younger. With Markkanen, the franchise has not been good enough to reach the postseason and won too much to be at the top of the lottery. The Jazz don’t want to pick tenth for the next five years.

Utah has one year to prove it. The Jazz do not want to lose their 2025 first-round draft pick to the Thunder, but this is Markkanen’s chance to stay in Salt Lake City. If they make the playoffs, the Jazz may keep him long-term. In the loaded Western Conference, it is an extremely long shot, but crazier things have happened. Utah owes OKC their pick with a top-ten protection. The Jazz need to be near the bottom or in the playoffs.

Utah will likely be back in the lottery, which will put Lauri Markkanen firmly on the trade block. Being locked in long-term should improve his value, and fans know Danny Ainge will set an incredibly high asking price. Markkanen is an All-Star in his prime. The Jazz will certainly demand everything and only settle for slightly less.

This was the obvious outcome. If given truth serum, the Jazz’s front office may prefer to tank for a top selection in the loaded 2025 draft, but Markkanen blossomed in Utah. He became an All-Star with the Jazz, despite not being a homegrown talent. The seven-footer wants to stay. The franchise was right to give him a massive contract and let this stay for one more year.

Markkanen will have massive trade value next summer, and the Utah Jazz must shop him. This likely makes their rebuild a bit longer, but finding an unexpected All-Star was worth it. The Jazz have several young building blocks and more will be on the way. Markkanen may only have one season left in Utah, but the Jazz will get a massive return and use it to build their next contender. The plan is clear. All that is left to do is wait.