NBA Trade Rumors: Lauri Markkanen's Availability Was a 'Mirage' amid Warriors Buzz

The Utah Jazz were reportedly not as willing to trade Lauri Markkanen to the Golden State Warriors as initially perceived.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Jazz and Warriors "never reached" a stage of "deeper" negotiations involving Markkanen.

"Markkanen signed an extension in Utah, and several sources from multiple inquiring teams said they believe, in retrospect, this was always the Jazz's intended outcome," Slater wrote. "Markkanen's true availability was a mirage."

On Aug. 7, Markkanen signed a five-year contract extension worth $238 million with Utah.

By signing a new deal on Aug. 7, the 27-year-old can't be moved until the 2025 offseason at the earliest. Markkanen is unable to be traded until six months following the date that he signed, which pushed his eligibility past next season's Feb. 6 trade deadline.

While the Warriors and Jazz reportedly discussed a deal involving the former All-Star, it doesn't seem as though Utah was seriously considering parting ways with the forward.

ESPN's Kendra Andrews revealed on Aug. 7 that trade talks between both teams "diminished" after the Jazz requested Brandin Podziemski following a standout rookie season from the guard. The Warriors held "high value" for young players such as Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga in negotiations, Andrews added.

Markkanen is now locked in with the Jazz next season after averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game on 48.0/39.9/89.9 shooting splits throughout 55 contests during his 2023-24 campaign.

As for the Warriors, they haven't made any blockbuster moves during the 2024 offseason. The team added Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson after losing Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade agreement.

Despite a relatively quiet summer, Golden State could still move Podziemski and Kuminga as part of a package for the right star to pair alongside Stephen Curry. The Athletic's Shams Charania, Tony Jones, and Slater reported on Aug. 7 that the Warriors aren't interested in Zach LaVine or Brandon Ingram despite attempts to make a big offseason splash.