Jazz Promised Lauri Markkanen 'Timely Turn Toward Competing' When Signing Extension

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Jazz Promised Lauri Markkanen 'Timely Turn Toward Competing' When Signing Extension 

Post#1 » by RealGM Wiretap » Fri Mar 14, 2025 3:46 pm

When the Utah Jazz signed Lauri Markkanen to a four-year, $220 million contract extension last August, sources say they had an understanding that the team would have "a timely turn toward competing."


After two seasons in which the Jazz were competitive for the first half of the season before shifting toward improving lottery odds, the team has largely been non-competitive throughout the entirety of the 24-25 season. The Jazz were recently fined by the NBA for keeping Markkanen out of games he was healthy enough to play.


Markkanen was ineligible to be traded this season due to the date of his contract extension, but he becomes trade eligible again in the offseason. Markkanen turns 28 in May and is signed through 28-29 with no options for either player or team.

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Vegeta10176
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Re: Jazz Promised Lauri Markkanen 'Timely Turn Toward Competing' When Signing Extension 

Post#2 » by Vegeta10176 » Fri Mar 14, 2025 9:12 pm

Lauri is now overpaid.. The Jazz do not have a star player drafted so that promise is hot air.. Let's see how the draft goes if they get someone who can be a star then I can see if a shift if they don't they will continue to rightfully tank.
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Re: Jazz Promised Lauri Markkanen 'Timely Turn Toward Competing' When Signing Extension 

Post#3 » by bgrep14 » Sat Mar 15, 2025 12:48 pm

Jazz played around with Lauri to much and now he’s overpaid. They should’ve just traded him last year.
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Re: Jazz Promised Lauri Markkanen 'Timely Turn Toward Competing' When Signing Extension 

Post#4 » by TheCage4 » Sat Mar 15, 2025 7:43 pm

For all the Ainge talks I’ve seen on here since his days in Boston, he’s done squat with the Jazz.

Yes, he has a ton of draft capital and a bunch of young players, but unless he actually moves pieces, they are on a road to no where.
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