Warriors Aggressively Pursuing Trade for $67.5 Million Star on Cusp of Prime
The Golden State Warriors are running out of options to replace Klay Thompson with a star talent by way of a summer trade, but the franchise remains in contention for perhaps the best player still available.
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report on Wednesday, July 3, reported that the Dubs are aggressively pursuing a deal with the Utah Jazz to acquire Lauri Markkanen.
“[The Warriors] are the aggressor in this Lauri Markkanen sweepstakes,” Haynes reported. “They are trying to do whatever they can to get into the fold, but it’s going to be a costly price to get Lauri. The Utah Jazz, they don’t necessarily want to trade Lauri, but they will for the right price tag.”
Markkanen is a 7-foot stretch big who is just beginning his prime, as he will play next season at the age of 27. He averaged 25.6 points per contest in the 2022-23 campaign, during which he earned an All-Star Team selection and won the league’s Most Improved Player Award.
He put up 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season, according to Basketball Reference, and is a career 37.5% 3-point shooter on 6.6 attempts per outing.
The greatest concern for Golden State when it comes to its pursuit of Markkanen won’t be fit alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but rather the cost of the 7-footer’s acquisition.
