The fee the Utah Jazz are asking for to acquire All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen is “unreasonable” for the Warriors, who are the team most interested in acquiring the Finnish player, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Monday, citing league sources.
According to Charania, the Warriors are offering guard Moses Moody, future draft picks and a pick swap, but the Jazz are also seeking forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Brandin Podziemski in a trade.
The Jazz are considering offers for Markkanen, but Charania reported they are also considering retaining the 2017 No. 7 overall pick, who becomes eligible for a contract extension on Aug. 6.
The Jazz's desire to retain Markkanen may be the reason for the high trade price.
Tony Jones of The Athletic reported last week on 95.7 The Game that the Warriors were making a “substantial” offer for Markkanen.
“I think the level of offers that are on the market is substantial,” Jones said. “I think they're primarily based on picks. When you look at some of the offers, I think there's one or two young players that have the potential to develop over the course of their careers.”
Jones' report seems to line up with Charania's latest report that the Warriors are making an offer centered around young player Moody and draft picks.
The Warriors have been linked to Markkanen since July 1, shortly after NBA free agency began, and the excitement has died down a bit after a hectic few days since the start of the season.
Markkanen, who earned his first All-Star selection and Most Valuable Player award in the 2022-23 season, appeared in 55 games in the 2023-24 season, averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Kuminga and Moody, both lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, are on different trajectories at the moment, leading to the Warriors reportedly not wanting to move one and the other.
Kuminga had a breakout season in 2023-24, playing in 74 games, starting 46 of them, and averaging a career-high 16.1 points. Many on the Warriors, including Draymond Green, believe the 21-year-old has limitless potential.
The Warriors reportedly declined to add Kuminga to the team when they discussed a Paul George trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in early July.
Moody, meanwhile, has shown flashes of potential but struggled to secure consistent minutes in Steve Kerr's rotation. The 22-year-old averaged 8.1 points in 17.5 minutes last season, both career highs.
Poziemski, the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is quickly becoming a mainstay for the Warriors, appearing in 28 games as a rookie and likely retaining that role alongside Stephen Curry when the 2024-25 season begins in October.
It remains to be seen whether the Warriors and Jazz can bridge the gap in trade talks and reach an agreement that is favorable for both teams.
But it's clear the Warriors are reluctant to part with Kuminga and Podziemski, two pillars of the team's future.
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