NBA rumors: Warriors insider urges bold Lauri Markkanen trade pursuit after Jimmy Butler injury

The Golden State Warriors suffered a major blow this week when it was revealed that star wing Jimmy Butler had suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The injury comes amidst the Warriors finding a bit of a groove recently, having gone 6-1 in their recent home stand. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, longtime Warriors insider Tim Kawakami suggested that the team turn to a familiar face in Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen.

The Warriors reportedly were close to making a trade for Lauri Markkanen back during the 2024 offseason alongside their pursuit of Paul George. They supposedly were not keen on including all of their valuable trade assets at the time in a deal with the Jazz. Instead, they held on to those assets, and it helped them land Butler at last season’s trade deadline.

Now it’s possible that the Warriors could attempt to trade for Markkanen again in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s injury. Since their initial pursuit, Markkanen has signed a contract extension with the Jazz worth around $196 million for four years.

Markkanen has been reportedly been a popular trade target for multiple teams around the league. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he’s emerged into an All-Star talent.

He’s appeared in a total of 33 games so far this season, at a little over 19 minutes per game. He’s averaging a career-high 27.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals with splits of 48.3 percent shooting from the field, 36.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 88.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Kawakami suggested that the Warriors could pursue smaller trades such as DeMar DeRozan and Trey Murphy, but that Markkanen should be the prime target. The Warriors have three first round picks at their disposal to use as trade assets, and they still have to resolve the Jonathan Kuminga situation as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

The post NBA rumors: Warriors insider urges bold Lauri Markkanen trade pursuit after Jimmy Butler injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.