Report: Warriors presented ‘substantial’ offer for Markkanen

While Dub Nation anxiously awaits developing news in the Lauri Markkanen sweepstakes, general manager Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors front office appear to have done their part in making an effort to land the star forward.

Golden State has presented the Utah Jazz a substantial offer for the NBA All-Star big man, the Athletic’s Tony Jones confirmed Friday during an interview on 95.7 the game.

“Golden State has an offer on the table and I feel it’s a substantial offer,” Jones said. “[for Lauri Markkanen]. The Jazz can only answer that for themselves. What they’re looking for.”

Jones explained further that while the current offers are heavily-rooted in draft picks, Utah could be seeking an additional asset in the form of an up-and-coming youngster to grow with the Jazz moving forward.

“I do think the level of offers that are out there are substantial, Jones said. “I think they are heavily pick-based. I think with a couple of the offers there, a young player or two out there that has the potential to grow over the course of his career. “

Despite Golden State’s offer reportedly being strong, the path to attaining Markkanen could be complicated due to the draft capital the Warriors have at their disposal.

“I think one thing that complicates Golden State’s package is that they [the Warriors] only have essentially two unprotected first rounders, [2026 and 2028],” Jones said. “You look at what Mikal Bridges went for a couple weeks ago, he went for five [first-round picks], and it wasn’t just five firsts. It was five firsts, plus swaps, plus Bojan Bogdanović. I think that all of that stuff has to be taken into consideration when you think about what Lauri Markkanen could potentially go for.”

While Markkanen appears to be the big acquisition coveted by Golden State, the Warriors and Jazz both aren’t in a position of desperation to get a deal done immediately. There likely will be plenty of back and forth between both front offices, with a prolonged negotiation sure to precede any potential trade for the star forward.

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