The Western Conference is full of powerhouse teams, but the Utah Jazz aren’t one of them. Having lost 6 more games this season than they will in 2022-23, the Jazz seem eternally stuck in the middle. However, every cloud has a silver lining, and for the Jazz, that silver lining has come in the form of Lauri Markkanen.
But shortly after the season ended, rumors began to circulate around the league about the Finnish All-Star forward. While rumors claimed the Warriors were interested in acquiring him, Jazz fans thought their last hope of a title shot was gone.
Fortunately, the 7-foot-4 player has no plans to leave as he puts an end to all rumors that he’s “unhappy in Utah.”
Markkanen posted a photo of himself holding a fish in Provo Canyon. He even captioned the image, “I like Utah” which is a reassuring message of his feelings towards the city, putting Jazz fans at ease. In fact, Markkanen has stated several times in interviews that he is very happy to stay in Salt Lake City and play for the Jazz.
The Finn finished the season averaging 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, which put him at the top of the Jazz in scoring. He also posted extravagant shooting percentages from the field and three-point range.
At 6’3″, Markkanen knows his way around the paint. But what makes his serves even more appealing is his ability to stretch the court effectively. He averaged 48.0% on free throws, 39.9% on three-pointers and 89.9% on free throws.
With the Jazz not making any moves in any direction, many thought Markkanen would be unhappy with the franchise. Utah doesn’t seem to want to add new talent to chase a championship. But at the same time, the organization also doesn’t seem to want to embark on a rebuild, hence the trade rumors.
After the Warriors lost Klay Thompson last offseason, the team looked to revamp its roster by adding more talent.
The Warriors were able to bring in Buddy Hield to fill the void left by Thompson. And Markkanen was seen as the right wing who would help their star point guard, Stephen Curry, on offense.
However, after the latest photo of Lauri grinning from ear to ear on social media, the rumors quickly died down. And even if the Jazz don’t make any moves, Markkanen seems happy with where he is for the foreseeable future.
