By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A new era with Austin Ainge taking over as the president of basketball operations immediately puts decisions on the table for the Utah Jazz.
Expected to consider offers from other NBA teams during the offseason, Lauri Markkanen is among Jazz trade candidates, as reported by Sarah Todd of Deseret News.
The former assistant general manager of the Celtics and son of the chief executive officer of the Jazz, Danny Ainge, is expected to be active over the next weeks, leading to the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, hoping to put the franchise back on track.
Utah missed the Playoffs for three straight years, since the arrival of Markkanen via trade, before the 2022-23 campaign. In his first season, the Finnish forward was named Most Improved Player, but has since been slowed down by various setbacks. Last season, he was limited to 47 appearances, averaging 19.0 points per contest.
Markkanen, 28, has already been part of a trade, shifting from the Chicago Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021, in addition to the Jazz trade. Overall, he has played in 450 NBA games, including 168 with his current team, but has not made the Playoffs over eight years in the league based in North America.
Last summer, countering similar trade rumors, the Vantaa native signed a contract extension, which lasts until the end of the 2028-29 season.
Sidestepping uncertainty surrounding his NBA career, the main offseason headline for Markkanen will be suiting up for Finland in the EuroBasket 2025.