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Lauri Markkanen’s Explosive Start Revives Questions About Warriors’ Decision to Pass on Trade

Draymond Green urged the front office to keep its prospects, a stance now under fresh scrutiny.

Overview

  • Markkanen’s 47-point, double-overtime win on Sunday pushed his early-season average to roughly 30.6 points per game, ranking among the NBA’s top scorers.
  • Golden State pursued the Jazz star in 2024 but refused to include Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga in offers, according to reporting from Marc Stein.
  • Draymond Green told GM Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob not to green-light a deal given Danny Ainge’s asking price, later saying the hypothetical move "could have been trash."
  • After trade talks faded, Markkanen signed a renegotiated contract and extension with Utah worth about $195.8 million through 2028-29, keeping him in Salt Lake City.
  • With Markkanen thriving and the Warriors’ young players shifting to bench roles, commentators are reassessing Golden State’s opportunity cost while noting Utah’s wins could complicate future draft positioning.