The Utah Jazz and CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge have eyed Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski in a potential trade for All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday night on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“I do not think [the Jazz] “I want to move Lauri Markkanen,” Charania told hosts Rob Perez and Amin Elhassan during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. “But if the Golden State Warriors take a Brandin Podziemski and from what I’ve heard, three first-round picks, three or four unprotected picks traded, three or four second-round picks…”
At that time, one of the hosts mentioned promising striker Jonathan Kuminga as a possible name for a transfer.
“Kuminga is a name, but I think, as far as I know, the Jazz are more focused on Brandin Podziemski and his inclusion in the deal,” Charania said. “All the picks are in the deal. And I think from the Warriors’ perspective, it’s Podziemski, but then there’s not all the picks and if there are all the picks, then there’s not going to be Podziemski.”
Charania’s latest reporting comes about 12 hours after he reported, citing league sources, that the Jazz’s asking price for Markkanen (Podziemski, Kuminga, guard Moses Moody and draft capital) was a “non-starter” for the Warriors.
The Warriors have reportedly been interested in Markkanen, the NBA’s Most Improve Player 2022-23, since July 1, but it appears they have made no progress with the Jazz.
“And so this could be a back and forth, but both sides are kind of stuck where they are right now, saying nothing’s going to change,” Charania said. “So only time will tell. But I think the Jazz are comfortable with extending Lauri Markkanen.”
Markkanen, 27, will be eligible for an extension from August 6.
The Warriors strongly believe in the potential of Podziemski and Kuminga, so it is understandable that they do not want to include them in a possible Markkanen trade.
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