Spurs 'Expected' to Be Out of Lauri Markkanen Sweepstakes This Season

The small-market Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs have been at the center of NBA trade rumors this offseason, as the Spurs were among the favorites to trade for All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, who was the prized trade target all summer. Markkanen will be an unrestricted free agent this summer unless he signs an extension, and recent reports from Shams Charania point to him inking a deal, with one major caveat.

If the Jazz extend him on Wednesday or later, he will be unable to be traded before the NBA's February Trade Deadline, as players cannot be moved within six months of signing a contract. That takes the Spurs out of the running until the 2025 offseason.

"League sources said Markkanen’s deal is projected to be worth upwards of $200 million over five years," wrote Charania. "It keeps him under contract through 2029, giving him the richest contract in Jazz history and one of the highest salaries for a European player in NBA history."

A deal is "expected" to be signed on Wednesday or later, although with a few fleeting hours left, there is a chance Markkanen could be extended today and traded on the deadline.

That said, chances are very slim, and Markkanen seems content to stay in Utah.

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In his two seasons with the Jazz, Markkanen has averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds. He shot 39.5 percent from deep and was regarded as one of the best players the Spurs could pair with Victor Wembanyama, although Utah's asking price was likely much too high to sway the Silver and Black.