Back in August, when the Utah Jazz extended Lauri Markkanen’s contract for four years at $220 million, insiders mentioned there was a shared expectation that the team would soon make a push towards being more competitive.
In the previous two seasons, the Jazz showed early promise, maintaining a competitive edge before eventually focusing on improving their lottery odds as the seasons progressed. However, this year has been different. Throughout the 2024-2025 season, they’ve struggled to find that same level of competitiveness. The situation took a turn recently when the NBA fined the Jazz for not playing Markkanen in games despite him being fit to participate.
Markkanen was off the table for trades this season because of the timing of his extension, but he’ll be back in the conversation for trades once the offseason starts. He’s turning 28 in May, and his contract extends through the 2028-2029 season, with no options for either party to adjust.
