Jazz star signs $238M extension to stay with club

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million contract extension, ESPN.com reports.

The 27-year-old Markkanen averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last season and was an All-Star in 2023.

The contract provides $220 million in new money and he will make $36 million this season, up from the $18 million on his original contract.

The deal also stipulates that Markkanen can’t be traded for six months, meaning he can’t be moved until the offseason, and the deal has no options. Next season’s trade deadline is Feb. 6.

Markkanen was part of the Donovan Mitchell blockbuster trade in 2022 with the Cleveland Cavaliers after his only season with the team.

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Though the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Markkanen in 2017, he was traded to Chicago as part of the Jimmy Butler deal. He spent four seasons in Chicago before he was dealt to Cleveland.

In seven NBA seasons, Markkanen has averaged 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2023.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY