Like many professional athletes, Lauri Markkanen does his best to stay off social media. He learned early in his career, especially through his struggles as a Chicago Bull, that it’s best to try to ignore the chatter. So, he hops on and off X and Instagram every once in a while. But this summer was different. He would have had to have been living under a rock to not hear the trade chatter surrounding his name. The constant talk and speculation were impossible to ignore.
He tried to go about everyday life like normal. He hit the weight room. He worked on his overall game. For at least a portion of the offseason, he was a fixture at the Utah Jazz practice facility. He went home to Finland and even brought teammates such as point guard Keyonte George to work out with him.
Woke up in Helsinki 🇫🇮👀🔑#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/ijvpA2DZ2t
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 29, 2024
Behind closed doors, Markkanen was adamant that he didn’t want a trade. He told the Jazz front office he wanted to be with the franchise for the long haul and when the next Utah team is a good one, he wants to be the one leading it.
“I think it’s fair to say that I saw the stuff online, but I tried very hard not to pay attention to it. I’m a big believer in what the front office and the coaching staff are doing,” Markkanen told The Athletic. “I think it’s the people we have around and the environment we have. We have a group of guys that want to get better.
“I’ve embraced the leadership role, and my family truly enjoys Utah. We have enjoyed our two years here.”
On Monday, Markkanen and the Jazz will hold media day. On Tuesday, the Jazz will begin training camp. On Friday, they open preseason in Salt Lake City. That will likely tip off a difficult season for the Jazz in terms of wins and losses. In the Western Conference, only the Portland Trail Blazers appear to be as young or younger, and less experienced than Utah. The Jazz are likely to undergo an aggressive youth movement, and we know how those turn out in the NBA: they turn into high value lottery picks.
Markkanen knows this. The rest of the NBA knew as well, which is why many teams inquired about his availability during the summer. It’s why teams such as the Golden State Warriors were aggressive in making offers for the seven-footer who has become one of the most versatile offensive players in basketball. It’s why Markkanen’s insistence on staying in Utah is viewed as a zig when so many players in his position in past offseasons — Damian Lillard comes to mind — would have zagged.
When he was eligible, Markkanen signed a max contract extension. He purposely signed it on Aug. 7, which makes him ineligible to be traded this season, so there won’t be any trade deadline chatter. The Jazz are committed to him, but more importantly, Markkanen is committed to the Jazz.
Markkanen knows what he’s getting into this season. Let’s be truthful: Utah should lose this season, and lose frequently. A successful year would mean the Jazz are picking in the top five of the 2025 NBA Draft. A banner season would mean Utah is picking at the top of the draft, which means having the right to select super talented forward Cooper Flagg.
At 27, Markkanen is entering the prime of his career. He’s playing at an All-Star level, but he’s never been to the postseason. Winning is important to him. There were a lot of nights last season where he would sit at his locker after a game and stare into space, not really wanting to speak. But he has been through enough difficult times outside of the Jazz organization to where he is appreciative of the opportunity he’s received in Utah.
“I think it’s obvious that we are going to have a young team and that this team may have its ups and downs,” Markkanen said. “But it’s always about getting better, both individually and collectively. Players try and win games, and heading into this year, we are going to try and win as many games as possible. I want to get better as an individual player. I want to get better at playing well in crunchtime and just building with this team.
“I think we are all aware that a lot of people are not expecting big things from us this season.”
Were there difficult moments for Markkanen this offseason? Sure. Were there even some déjà vu moments? Absolutely. Markkanen has bounced around in his career, especially relative to someone of his talent level. He knows what it’s like to be discarded. He also knows what it’s like to be wanted in a trade. This, however, was something different. The Jazz heard from most of the league on Markkanen this summer. And that notion wasn’t lost on Markkanen himself.
His game has progressed to the point where he can fall out of bed and get you around 25 points and eight rebounds a night. He’s going to shoot 40 percent from the 3-point line on around seven or eight attempts per game. He’s going to play above the rim on both ends. He can grab a rebound and dribble in transition. He’s gotten better at self creation, especially in isolation.
For what the NBA has become, Markkanen is almost a perfect fit offensively for it. His value around the league is almost absolute, which is why he was so wanted during the offseason. That progression for Markkanen has been a real and arduous thing. So, even if he wanted to stay in Utah, hey, it was nice to feel wanted.
“I think it was about stopping and appreciating how far I’ve come,” Markkanen said. “It was a nice feeling to know that a lot of teams wanted you to play for their franchise. It was kind of a cool thing to be honest. It tells me that I’ve been able to get a lot better as a player. But I tried not to think about it beyond that. I know that I wanted to come back to Utah, and that’s where my priorities were.”
His role this season will be a balancing act, and may be a difficult one at that. Players such as George, Walker Kessler, Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams need to be developed. Markkanen won’t be the only veteran on the opening night roster, as John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton remain.
But will the Jazz be too good to lose with the frequency it will take to secure a top five lottery spot? Markkanen is legitimately one of the top 25 players in the league. Sexton and Clarkson are very good players in their own right. What is clear is that the younger guys are going to play. What’s also clear is that the Jazz front office knows its best way to improve is to build through the draft.
The Jazz explored other avenues this offseason. They tried to trade for Mikal Bridges, before the New York Knicks offered the Brooklyn Nets a huge package of first-round picks and pick swaps. The Jazz had a plan beyond that, if they were successful in trading for Bridges. But when that didn’t happen, building the talent base through the draft became the course of action — the Jazz will have three first-round picks in June.
“We have seven guys under the age of 23,” Utah general manager Justin Zanik said this past Friday. “Our growth is going to come from developing our talent base. And what’s important to developing is playing.”
So what does Markkanen’s progression look like this season? He wants to continue to get better with the ball in his hands. That means creating offense off the dribble at important times. It means him being more comfortable at being more of a vocal leader. Markkanen is entering his eighth year in the league. He’s been in a lot of situations. He’s seen a lot of teammate turnover. He’s grown as a person and a player. Growing as a leader is the next logical step.
Most importantly, Markkanen wants to do the things needed this season to set up the Jazz for a better future. He knows that this is a season that can affect what happens for Utah down the road. So, this is a season that means a lot, for him and for the franchise.
“I think it’s important to get game reps that you can’t simulate in practice,” Markkanen said. “I think that I can get a lot better, so I want to work on the things that I do well. I want to show these guys by example how to do the right things. I want to play the right way, especially with how coach (Will Hardy) wants us to play.
“I want to hold myself to a high standard.”
(Photo of Lauri Markkanen: Alex Goodlett / Getty Images)
