The Utah Jazz have solidified their future by signing All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen to a five-year, $238 million contract extension. His agent confirmed to ESPN that the new deal includes $220 million in additional money. Markkanen, 27, had one year and $18 million remaining on his previous contract.
The extension boosts his 2024-25 salary by $24 million and adds four more seasons, totaling $196 million, according to Michael Lelchitski of Sports International Group.
The Finnish 7-footer was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in his debut season with the Jazz in 2022-23 and made his first All-Star appearance that same year. Last season, Markkanen averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range in 55 starts.
A first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2017 NBA Draft, Markkanen has career averages of 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds over 403 games (377 starts) with the Chicago Bulls (2017-21), Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-22), and Jazz.
Additionally, the extension includes a clause that prevents Markkanen from being traded for six months, meaning Utah cannot move him until next offseason at the earliest.
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