Lauri Markkanen to Warriors? A Detailed Timeline of NBA’s On-Going Trade Mystery

The Lauri Markkanen situation has made no progress so far. It all started when the Warriors lost Klay Thompson as he unexpectedly moved to Dallas. While the Dubs added guys like Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and other assets to the roster, they still need a superstar player. As their eyes were fixed on bringing Markkanen to the Bay Area, GSW started the negotiations with the Jazz. Now, of course, the Dubs do see a future with younger prospects like Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody. And as precious as they might be to Steph Curry’s employers, Danny Ainge is looking for these exact assets.

Ainge is looking to add youngsters and future first-round picks in exchange for the Finnish star. However, the Dubs have kept Podz and JK very far away from the trade talks. Besides, apart from Steph and Green, they are the only reliable players coming off the bench. Nevertheless, the Dubs initially offered a pick-heavy package with first and second-rounders, including Moses Moody, to Utah.

The result? Jazz made a counteroffer that required Podz and JK in the existing deal. At this point, it was getting pretty tough to make this trade work. However, Golden State did not give up. It came to a point where the Utah side played lowball, asking only for Podziemski with other picks for Markkanen. The deal was not making any progress, still; the Warriors were determined to find an alternative way that could land Lauri in the Bay. Not only that, but as of now, Joe Lacob and Co. are running out of time!

Lauri Markkanen can look to ask for a deal extension this Tuesday. If he does, the Finnish star will not be eligible for a trade until the end of the 2024-25 season. But how is that possible?

After signing an extension, Markkanen cannot be traded for the next 6 months. And if he signs an extension on Tuesday, that is, August 6th, he will only be eligible for a trade on February 6th, 2025. Which also happens to be next year’s trade deadline.

However, the Dubs are serious and pretty active in the trade talks. But, on the other hand, Danny Ainge won’t budge unless Podz and JK are on the table. Is there any way that Stephen Curry and Co. can still trade for Lauri Markkanen? Yes, but the decision has to be made in a day’s worth of time.

The Warriors have reportedly come up with a last-minute plan for the Lauri Markkanen trade

Desperate to add a superstar alongside Steph Curry, “The @Warriors have continued exploring possibilities of “bringing a third NBA team to facilitate a trade for Markkanen w/o including Podziemski or Kuminga,” as per Ray Almeda. Of course, this will add a lot of flexibility, and hopefully, the Jazz will get their younger prospects on board. However, as of now, nobody knows who/which team it’s going to be. This also avoids adding Kuminga and Podz, which only makes things easier for the Warriors. While some might wonder why it’s crucial to add someone like Lauri Markkanen, the requirement has only come up after Klay Thompson’s absence.

Steph will turn 37 next year and their young superstars are yet to consistently shine in the first team. To keep the core of the squad in place, the Dubs need to add a player like Markkanen, even though he has no playoff experience. With just hours left for the player’s decision to sign an extension, it will be interesting to see how the Dubs plan to work their way to finally bringing in Markkanen.

What are your thoughts on the Dubs bringing in a third party to fulfill this trade deal? Who do you think it’ll be and will they be able to land Lauri Markkanen by Wednesday? Let us know in the comments.

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