Jazz hold firm on Markkanen, Thunder elevate Mitchell, Wolves ride new lineup
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League insiders no longer believe Utah will move Lauri Markkanen, while Oklahoma City and Minnesota find fresh sparks in their respective rotations.
Jazz
Executives around the NBA increasingly think Utah plans to build around Lauri Markkanen rather than place the All-Star forward on the trade market, according to The Stein Line. The Jazz owe Oklahoma City a top-eight protected first-round pick and could improve their lottery odds by tanking, but Markkanen’s performance is pushing the club in the opposite direction. The 7-footer is averaging a career-best 27.9 points per game and is signed through the 2028-29 season, giving Utah a long runway to add talent around him.
Thunder
Guard Ajay Mitchell has gone from two-way contract to rotation mainstay in less than a year. After returning from a prolonged toe injury, the former UC Santa Barbara standout earned unexpected minutes last season, converted those opportunities into a standard deal in February, and then accepted a multiyear pact as a restricted free agent. “He’s just a really good basketball player,” star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez. “He doesn’t need a play called, doesn’t need structure. He just plays the right way and wins.”
Timberwolves
Minnesota trailed San Antonio by four points entering the fourth quarter Sunday before head coach Chris Finch deployed an uncommon five-man unit: Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Naz Reid. The group had appeared together for only 15 minutes all season but outscored the Spurs by 20 during a decisive six-minute stretch. Reid, who tallied eight of his 15 points in the final period, said, “We’re a hard team to beat when we’re all involved. If we do that consistently, we’re going to be really, really tough.”
Source: Hoops Wire
