Lauri Markkanen Trade Rumors: Podziemski Could Be Key Piece in Warriors, Jazz Talks

If the Golden State Warriors are going to land Lauri Markkanen this offseason, they may need to include Brandin Podziemski in the deal.

"Educated speculation, I think Podziemski would have to be in the deal," ESPN's Tim MacMahon said during Thursday's Lowe Post (45:45 mark). "Obviously you're talking about a ton of picks. I don't know how much the Jazz would press on [Jonathan] Kuminga. I do think, like, if Podziemski is not in the deal there wouldn't be a deal."

Both Zach Lowe and McMahon believe other teams could make a better offer to the Utah Jazz than Podziemski and future picks, however, including the San Antonio Spurs.

Whether the Spurs are ready to make that sort of splash this early into Victor Wembanyama's career remains to be seen. The Spurs could simply keep their draft assets and young players and take a more patient approach to building a contender around Wemby.

But the Warriors don't have that kind of time if they want to build one last contender around the 36-year-old Curry. As it stands, a supporting cast of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kuminga, Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield, among others, may not be enough to even get the Warriors into the playoffs.

The 27-year-old Markkanen would be a perfect fit as second fiddle, however, providing scoring (23.2 PPG last season), rebounding (8.2 RPG last season) and perimeter shooting (37.5 percent from three for his career).

He's the sort of stretch-4 built to play alongside Curry in a Steve Kerr offense.

But are the Warriors willing to pay the price to get him?

Danny Ainge, Utah's CEO of basketball operations, is notorious for holding out for maximum value in trades and will ask for a major return. And it would make sense for the rebuilding Jazz to target a player like Podziemski, who is only 21 and showed major promise during his rookie year, averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 38.5 percent from three.

The Markkanen saga feels like the next major domino to fall this offseason, though it has an expiration date: Aug. 6, when he's eligible to sign an extension. If he does so with Utah, he wouldn't be eligible to be traded until Feb. 6, which just so happens to be the NBA trade deadline. If he signed his extension on Aug. 7 or later, he wouldn't be eligible to be traded at all this season.

So if the Dubs truly want Markkanen, they have their deadline.