A 3-Team Trade That Lands Lauri Markkanen With the Golden State Warriors

The Utah Jazz feel no urgency in trading All-Star forward/center Lauri Markkanen. The franchise has the cap space to renegotiate and extend his contract to keep him long-term or trade him ahead of the February deadline (or even next offseason).

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are hoping to make the later years of Stephen Curry's career more than ceremonial; the goal is to still compete at the highest level, and Markkanen would be a significant step in that direction.

Understandably, the Jazz are greedy. They don't have to trade Markkanen, though he may contribute enough wins in Utah to complicate the pursuit of a top prospect like Duke's Cooper Flagg in the lottery. The Jazz are in a rebuilding phase, but, per multiple sources, they want Brandin Podziemski from Golden State. While Jonathan Kuminga has value, he's looking for a significant extension that may not match Utah's timeline.

So far, it's a stalemate—one that may end with the Jazz simply refusing a deal without Podziemski. But here's a suggestion on a three-team trade that reroutes Kuminga to the Sacramento Kings to get Utah additional draft assets along with Moses Moody. If a deal gets done, it may look closer to the following, provided the Jazz are willing to compromise.

Full Trade Scenario

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz scores on an alley-oop pass over Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center on December 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Jazz get:

• Moses Moody (via Warriors)
• Kevon Looney (via Warriors)
• Gui Santos (via Warriors)
• Kevin Huerter (via Kings)
  
• Colby Jones (via Kings)
• 2025 first-rounder (via Warriors, top-5 protection, else 2026 unprotected)
• 2026 Atlanta Hawks second-rounder (via Warriors)
• 2027 first-round swap (via Warriors, top-5 protection, else a 2028 Hawks second-rounder)
• 2028 first-rounder (via Kings)
• 2030 first-round swap (via Kings)

Warriors get:

• Lauri Markkanen (via Jazz)
• $8 million trade exception (Looney)
• $1.9 million trade exception (Santos)

Kings get:

• Jonathan Kuminga (via Warriors)
• $9.2 million trade exception (Huerter)
  
• $2.1 million trade exception (Jones)

Why the Utah Jazz Do It

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SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 16: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 Play-In Tournament on April 16, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Jazz may reject the initial premise, but waiting until February to trade Markkanen comes with its own risks, including injury. Assuming the Warriors are making the best, concrete offer (teams rarely have the vast menu of choices kicked around on the internet), Utah may decide to bend on Podziemski for the haul of picks via Golden State and Sacramento.

Outside of Moody, who the team can look to extend before the season on a reasonable deal, the rest of the players are more a function of getting a deal done than end-game goals for the Jazz. Utah has until the start of the season to get its payroll to the league minimum of $126.5 million. That can be achieved by renegotiating Markkanen, but then any deal has to wait until February (assuming he agrees to sign on the first day possible, he may choose to wait 24 hours to give himself location security for the 2024-25 season).

The Jazz get a look at young players like Santos and Jones; Huerter has an extra year, which may help Utah execute another trade down the road. Looney is expiring; possibly a buyout candidate or another salary to put into a deal later.

A more straightforward deal excludes the Kings, but the Jazz don't seem to have the appetite to give him a significant extension. The Warriors are pre-flipping him to Sacramento to up their offer to Utah (without including Podziemski).

The Jazz may prefer waiting, but if Podziemski isn't happening, the Warriors need to beat the next-best offer for Markkanen, presenting enough enticement to get Utah to budge before the season.

Why the Golden State Warriors Do It

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LONDON, ENGLAND: JULY 19: Stephen Curry during the USA Men's basketball team training session at CitySport, The Franklin Building, London, before playing two USA basketball showcase matches against South Sudan and Germany at the O2 arena in London in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games on July 19th, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

When the Warriors drafted Podziemski at No. 19 in 2023, several teams raised their metaphorical eyebrows at what seemed like a reach for a player they had projected as a high second-rounder. He quickly exceeded expectations, and Golden State is extremely hesitant to move him.

While Kuminga has shown tremendous potential, the franchise may not want to overpay when its identity revolves around Curry. The Andrew Wiggins market is thought to be relatively soft, and the Warriors still need what he does as an athletic wing who can defend and score.

Looney has played a vital role on the franchise, but Golden State let Klay Thompson depart to the Dallas Mavericks in free agency (his decision, but the team could have offered enough salary to sway him to return). Looney would be superfluous with Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Markkanen.

Moody and the picks are the cost of doing business. The Warriors would have to be confident that Markkanen agrees to stay long-term, but those details tend to be hashed out before a significant trade (even if not technically legal or binding).

The Warriors give Curry a more formidable roster and a chance to win, all while staying below their first-apron spending limit.

Why the Sacramento Kings Do It

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 16: Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 Play-In Tournament on April 16, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Kings need a forward to replace Harrison Barnes, traded to the San Antonio Spurs earlier in the summer in a move to keep payroll at a reasonable level. Kuminga will earn $7.6 million this season, more than half of Huerter. Sacramento also clears Huerter's salary for 2025-26, which should leave enough room for the team to use some or all of next year's non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

Kuminga may want a $25-35 million starting salary, but that's up to the Kings to negotiate. Sacramento can compromise or let Kuminga go to restricted free agency in 2025, knowing the team has the leverage in negotiations. As a player, he represents an athletic forward who can make up for some of Domantas Sabonis' deficiencies defensively—not to diminish the All-Star and his abilities.

The combination of forwards Keegan Murray and Kuminga with De'Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and Sabonis is a potent six. Outgoing players like Huerter and Jones may not hurt the Kings as much as the draft compensation, but this may be the best way for Sacramento to add a young, athletic talent like Kuminga.

A deal may hinge on the Jazz's demand for Podziemski, but the Kings may be able to help provide Golden State and Utah a viable compromise before the start of the season while improving their chances in the Western Conference.

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