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.