The Utah Jazz have finalized a significant contract with All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, securing him for five more years with a $238 million agreement. Markkanen’s agent confirmed the details to ESPN, noting that the new deal includes $220 million in additional earnings. Previously, Markkanen had one year left on his contract worth $18 million. The new agreement boosts his 2024-25 salary by $24 million and extends the contract for four more seasons, adding $196 million.
Markkanen, a 27-year-old from Finland, had an impressive first season with the Jazz in 2022-23, earning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and his first All-Star selection. During that season, he averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and had a 39.9 percent shooting rate from three-point range in 55 starts.
Drafted as the 7th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Markkanen has played for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Utah Jazz over his career. He has career averages of 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 403 games, starting in 377 of those.
The extension includes a clause that prevents Markkanen from being traded for six months, extending past the February 6 trade deadline. This means the Jazz cannot trade him until the next offseason at the earliest.