Even though they had a fantastic off-season, the San Antonio Spurs’ best NBA free agency decision may have been the one they chose not to make. Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz has apparently been linked to them, although the asking price is very high. The 27-year-old forward is a great fit for the Spurs, but they want to handle him similarly to how they did with Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes.
San Antonio isn’t ready to limit their future by signing long, expensive contracts or giving up the most sought-after of their several first-round draft selections, even as they continue to assemble a roster around Victor Wembanyama.
Going through reported Spurs offer for Lauri Markkanen
At the beginning of the month, reports indicated that GM Brian Wright had submitted an official trade offer for Lauri Markkanen. More recent reports suggest that the Spurs are still in contention for the Finnish player’s acquisition, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding the Jazz’s plans for him.
August 6 is the deadline for deciding whether Markkanen’s contract will be extended. As Utah considers its options, one possibility is renegotiating with their leading scorer and putting him back on the trade block by the February deadline. Another option is allowing him to play out his contract at $18 million next season.
A trade this summer remains a possibility. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Spurs are willing to part with multiple first-round picks and forward Keldon Johnson in a potential deal for Markkanen, despite still believing in Johnson’s development.
The Jazz’s asking price for their 2023 All-Star has been high, reportedly requiring several first-round picks. This is not an issue for San Antonio, which has multiple first-round picks or first-round pick swap options in every draft through 2031, including four possible first-round selections next summer. This abundance of draft capital is central to the potential trade.