The Utah Jazz and CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge have set their sights on Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski as part of a potential trade for All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday night on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“I don’t think (the Jazz) want to part ways with Lauri Markkanen,” Charania told hosts Rob Perez, Amin Elhassan and during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. “But if the Golden State Warriors put together a Brandin Podziemski and from what I’m told, three first-round picks, three or four unprotected pick swaps, three or four second-round picks…”
At that point, one of the hosts mentioned winger Jonathan Kuminga as a potential name in trade talks.
“Kuminga is a name but I think from what I’ve heard the Jazz are more focused on Brandin Podziemski and getting him in the deal,” Charania said. “All the picks are in the deal. And I think from the Warriors’ perspective, it’s Podziemski, but it’s not all the picks and if it’s all the picks, then there’s no Podziemski.”
Charania’s latest report comes about 12 hours after he reported, citing league sources, that the Jazz’s asking price for Markkanen — Podziemski, Kuminga, guard Moses Moody and draft capital — was a “non-starter” for the Warriors.
The Warriors have reportedly been pursuing Markkanen, the NBA’s most improved player in 2022-23, since July 1, but it appears they’ve stalled with the Jazz.
“So it could be a back-and-forth, but both sides are pretty entrenched right now in their current position that nothing is going to change,” Charania said. “Only time will tell. But I think the Jazz are very comfortable with the idea of extending Lauri Markkanen.”
Markkanen, 27, becomes eligible for an extension on Aug. 6.
The Warriors believe strongly in the potential of Podziemski and Kuminga, so it’s understandable that they would refuse to include them in a potential Markkanen trade.
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