The Utah Jazz are looking to retain forward Lauri Markkanen for the long haul, per Action Network’s Matt Moore

Markkanen joined the Jazz prior to the 2022 season after being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers for Donovan Mitchell. He has developed into an All-Star caliber player since joining the Jazz; in his first campaign with Utah, he averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and he has already surpassed those totals this season. He was named the 2022–2023 season’s Most Improved Player due to the improvement he made from his fifth to his sixth season.

According to Moore, the Jazz and Markkanen will work on a long-term contract extension during free agency this summer. Markkanen is in the third year of a four-year, $67.47 million contract and he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025. That being said, Markkanen is unlikely to be traded ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

“You can stop calling about Lauri Markkanen. It’s not happening. Not yet, anyway,” Moore wrote. “The Jazz and Markkanen will work on a long-term extension this summer and the most likely outcome is he stays with Utah on a max. But that’s a summer question and there’s no shot the Jazz trade Markkanen before the deadline.”

Markkanen, who is currently the undisputed captain of a youthful Utah squad, will be trying to sign a max contract this summer.

Over the past two seasons, despite losing Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the Jazz have exceeded expectations. Despite missing the playoffs the previous year, they are now in ninth position in the Western Conference after having a strong 22-22 season thus far this year.

The Jazz’s prospects in Utah will be excellent if they can convince Markkanen to sign an extension.