Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen continues to draw links with the Golden State Warriors. The Athletic's Anthony Slater has reported that the Warriors remain in pursuit of Markkanen, although he believes it could be a drawn-out process. Markkanen has averaged 20-plus points in back-to-back seasons and is just a year removed from being an All-Star. He would add shooting and size to the Warriors lineup, although Markkanen's scoring numbers could take a hit in San Francisco, with the offense flowing through Stephen Curry.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo.com, the Utah Jazz are "welcoming calls" on forward Lauri Markkanen. With Klay Thompson and Paul George no longer available, many teams around the National Basketball Association remain hopeful of upgrading their rosters. As a result, teams have expressed interest in the 27-year-old, with Golden State specifically mentioned as the club with the most interest. Markkanen finished last season by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from behind the arc. It appears he's found his footing with the Jazz, so his fantasy outlook may not be as bright if he gets moved to another team. Fantasy managers also hope Markkanen can figure out how to stay on the floor, considering he has missed 43 games due to injury since joining the Jazz.
Lauri Markkanen To Miss FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament
According to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) won't suit up for Finland during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The 27-year-old has spent the last two seasons in Utah, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from downtown. However, he appeared in only 55 games last season, including missing 17 of Utah's final 21 contests because of a right shoulder injury. Fortunately, Markkanen is expected to get the green light for on-court activities in August. With that said, Markkanen could be at least a top-30 fantasy option. But he's had trouble staying healthy since entering the league, which could continue to impact his potential for fantasy managers.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Houston Rockets. Markkanen will miss his seventh consecutive game after aggravating a right shoulder impingement to continue the woes in an injury-limiting season. Utah's one-time All-Star has played in just 55 games this season. The Jazz revealed that Markkanen would be re-evaluated on a timetable that should be met in a few days, but it is unlikely he will play again with Utah out of contention. Forwards Brice Sensabaugh, Luka Samanic, Taylor Hendricks, and Darius Bazley receive more minutes with Markkanen and others out for boosted fantasy value.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) appears set to miss the rest of the season. He has re-aggravated a previous shoulder injury, and the team has announced that Markkanen will be re-evaluated in two weeks. It's possible he might get the all-clear for Utah's season finale on April 14, but it looks unlikely, as there is no point in taking any risks with his health. Markkanen has missed all but five games this month, with his absence opening up playing time for Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh. Both players have filled starting roles lately, albeit with mixed results. Markkanen's injury situation also benefits Keyonte George and Collin Sexton, who have extra usage offensively without him on the court.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) is questionable for Friday's matchup against the Rockets. The Jazz are already eliminated from postseason contention, so the 2017 No. 7 overall pick might get another night off to avoid further injury. Markannen's most recent absence was when these clubs met nearly a week ago. Johnny Juzang got the start in that one. However, Brice Sensabaugh logged 27 minutes from the bench and finished with 16 points, four boards, and four assists, making him an ideal DFS value option if Markkanen isn't in the lineup on Friday night.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) is available for Wednesday's tilt versus the San Antonio Spurs. A right quadriceps contusion continues to plague Markkanen, but the All-Star forward will suit up for the 29-43 Jazz against a Spurs club that could be missing Rookie of the Year favorite and defensive menace Victor Wembanyama (ankle) on Wednesday. San Antonio already owns the seventh-worst defensive efficiency rating (114.9) in the league. Make sure Markkanen is inserted in all fantasy lineups, as he's averaging a robust 25.5 points, 6.5 boards, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 3.0 triples covering four performances in the month of March, but Utah could hand him random maintenance days down the stretch.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup with San Antonio due to a right quadriceps contusion. Markkanen posted 34 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block in 34 minutes during Monday's 115-105 loss to the Mavericks. The 26-year-old has played in only four out of 12 games in March. If he cannot suit up, Taylor Hendricks, Luka Samanic, and Brice Sensabaugh could see more minutes on the court.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) is available for Monday's tilt versus the Dallas Mavericks. Markkanen has alternated appearances for Utah in their past four contests due to a right quadriceps contusion but is suiting up for a favorable matchup against Dallas, who are surrendering the fifth-most DraftKings points to enemy power forwards. A 238.5-point implied total signifies the highest figure on Monday's 11-game slate, so this could be a high-scoring meeting. The 26-year-old three-level scorer is a must-start across all fantasy leagues when active, but he's really struggled to shoot the ball since returning from the All-Star break. Over his last seven showings, Markkanen is averaging 20.6 points on 39.6% shooting from the field, 6.0 boards, 1.3 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers. Beware of the 29-42 Jazz giving him random rest days down the stretch of a non-contending campaign as well.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) is seen as questionable for Monday's game against Dallas. Following his return from a quadriceps injury, the team has kept Markkanen out from a couple of games for injury management purposes. Considering he didn't play on Saturday versus Houston, it's likely Utah's top scorer will suit up on Monday, but fantasy managers will have to wait for official clearance. Markkanen's last appearance came against the Mavericks, and he had a very tough time, going 1-for-11 from downtown and finishing with 21 points on 30 percent overall shooting.
