pad300 wrote:I think it should be acknowledged that the real driver in this is what Markkannen wants. There are 3 things he can get from his next contract: a) Money (and it will be lots), b) the opportunity to compete and c) where he gets to live. I have no idea how he will choose to balance the three, but that's what he can get.
He can force Utah to trade him by going into Ainge's office and saying that he won't sign an extension with the Jazz. Ainge can't afford to lose him without any compensation as a free agent, and there will be suitors with cap space (eg the Spurs) next season.
He can pick a location from the suitors by telling the other suitors that he won't resign/extend with them. If he thinks, for example, the Warriors won't be competing (even if they get him), he can tell them he won't resign. At that point, it would be GM'ing malpractice to pay a ransom for him...
He gets the most money by signing an extension with the Jazz, but that commits him to another year in Utah (assuming I have understood the discussions involving when his extension would kick in and the trade deadline correctly), and Ainge can then trade him on a long term contract to whomever offers the most, rather than the location of Markkannen's choice. Also, some other locations can match or nearly match what Utah is offering (per year), as they have no state income tax (Utah has a 4.65% tax). It might even make sense for Markkannen to want a shorter contract than 4 or 5 years, so he could sign another one after 10 years in the league (with the permitted higher % of the salary cap).
Literally came in here to post this