2 New Dark Horse Lauri Markkanen NBA Trade Suitors Emerge

Lauri Markkanen is the best player currently available for trade in the NBA.

Three teams have expressed serious interest in his services: the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.

The Lakers’ best offer for him is a matter of public record, as is Miami’s. Golden State could have him, but they have been refusing to include one key player in the deal. That has scuttled negotiations up to now.

This week, two new dark horse trade suitors for Markkanen emerged. According to Brett Siegal of ClutchPoints, the San Antonio Spurs are a squad to watch.

“The Spurs have shown a willingness to part with multiple first-round picks, as well as Keldon Johnson, in a potential deal for Markkanen,” he wrote. “Yet San Antonio still believes in the 24-year-old wing’s development.”

Siegal also cautioned that, if not the Spurs, the Oklahoma City may be a team to watch for Markkanen’s services.

“As crazy as it may sound, the Thunder are positioned to add a star player this offseason, immediately impacting their chances to reclaim the 1-seed in the Western Conference and possibly making a realistic push towards the 2025 NBA Finals,” he wrote.

“There is a growing belief around the league that the Thunder will be in play for a major trade over the next several months, so is it hard to believe that they could pursue Markkanen?”

The market for Markkanen is white hot right now. He is one of the few players out there that can make a real difference right away.

Will the Spurs or Thunder be able to steal him away from the likes of the Lakers, Warriors and Heat? An answer one way or the other will come in the next few months.

Jennifer Withers Hoey

Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about Sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.