Real Reason Lauri Markkanen Doesn’t Want To Go To Lakers

Lauri Markkanen is a player the Los Angeles Lakers have coveted for nearly a year.

Ever since the beginning of last season, chatter has run rampant regarding L.A. possibly being able to work out something with the Utah Jazz centering around Markkanen.

The Lakers’ best offer for Markkanen, in fact, is a matter of public record. How it stacks up to the Miami Heat’s best offer and the Golden State Warriors’ best offer has similarly been widely discussed.

This week an interesting tidbit emerged.

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Markkanen doesn’t actually want to go to the Lakers.

“Lauri has really taken to Utah,” Jones said.

“His family has taken to Utah. Obviously the Jazz can trade him between now and Aug 6th, and Lauri knows that, but Lauri has forged a really close relationship to Will Hardy. And Will has really found a way to unlock his career

“And Lauri really recognizes that and appreciates that, and wants to be a part of the rebuild.”

Jones then doubled down on the notion that Markannen is staying put.

“I think we’re trending towards the Jazz NOT trading Lauri,” he confirmed on ESPN700’s The Drive with Spence Checketts. “I don’t think there’s a package out there that they are overly interested in.”

This obviously isn’t great news for the Lakers. Or the Heat and Warriors for that matter.

There are very few difference-makers available on the trade market right now – and Markannen is one of them.

Obviously things are always fluid in the NBA and anything can change on a dime, but at the moment at least, it doesn’t look like Markannen is getting traded to the Lakers any time soon.

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school Games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.