Lauri Markkanen would gain trade value after signing extension

On Tuesday, the Utah Jazz can present Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen with a raise for next season on the $18 million salary he makes now along with a four-year contract extension worth more than $200 million. The expectation from multiple league sources The Times-Picayune spoke to is that the Jazz and Markkanen will come to terms on a long-term deal to keep him in Utah. -via New Orleans Times-Picayune / August 5, 2024

But if Markkanen waits to sign his new deal until Wednesday or later, Markkanen won’t be eligible to be traded during this upcoming 2024-25 season. He wouldn’t be eligible to be traded for six months after his new agreement, in accordance with the collective bargaining, which would fall one day after the Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was similarly crucial for Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen to sign his extension Aug. 2, leaving him available for a trade for four days prior to the deadline. All indications, though, are that Markkanen intends to delay his signature for that exact purpose, league sources told Yahoo Sports. -via Yahoo! Sports / August 5, 2024

Or Lauri Markkanen or the Jazz, or both, could decide to hold off on a new deal and set up an extended negotiating period in which Markkanen could be traded at any point through February, sign a new deal with the Jazz or just go through the season and hit unrestricted free agency next July. For the Warriors, this would be the green-light scenario. I also think it’s the most likely — my guess is that if Markkanen won’t sign with Utah on Aug. 6, the deal won’t be there for him on Aug. 7 and beyond. I might be wrong, but that is my presumption. If that’s how it works out, it will be time to see what Utah can get on the trade market. And I think the Warriors would be in the front of the line, just as they were a few weeks ago when they first engaged in talks with the Jazz. By the way, I’m going to go ahead and conclude that Scenario 1 is probably a non-starter. According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, it’s unlikely that Markkanen will sign the new deal by Tuesday, which makes sense. The 27-year-old Markkanen knows he’s going to get major money either now or next summer. By not signing this week, Markkanen essentially gains a bit of control over his future. -via New York Times / August 5, 2024