Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz have agreed on a brand new five-year extension to keep him in Utah for the foreseeable future.Despite an offseason full of trade rumors, namely with the Golden State Warriors, the Jazz elected to hold onto Markkanen, and now give him a five-year, $238 million extension which includes $220 million in new money, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.More news: Warriors’ Final Trade Offer for Lauri Markkanen RevealedWith the two sides finalizing the extension on Wednesday, Markkanen is now ineligible to be traded for the next six months, meaning he won’t be able to be moved for the entirety of the 2024-25 season. It was clearly important for Markkanen to have some stability in his career, and he now has it with Utah. Markkanen spoke to ESPN about the decision to remain in Utah for the prime of his career.”They’ve all showed their belief in me, from the ownership to the front office to (coach) Will (Hardy),” Markkanen told ESPN. “It’s a comfortable environment and those guys’ resumes speak for themselves. I trust in the organization to help grow me as a person and a player, to build our team and I’m ready to take on the challenge.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 18: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Delta Center on March 18, 2024 in…
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 18: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Delta Center on March 18, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Markkanen is staying in Utah.
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Markkanen was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona. He would never suit up for Minnesota, though, as he was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls along with Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn for Jimmy Butler.Markkanen would spend the first four seasons of his career in Chicago, where he was very solid, averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game across 221 contests.Before the 2021-22 season, Markkanen was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he immediately signed a four-year, $67.5 million deal. However, he’d spend just one season in Cleveland before being shipped to Utah in yet another blockbuster deal, this one involving Donovan Mitchell. The Jazz received Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps in the trade.Markkanen immediately took a leap in his first season in Utah. He averaged career-highs in points (25.6) and rebounds (8.6) while shooting a career-best 49.9 percent from the field. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career and won the league’s Most Improved Player award at the end of the season.Markkanen continued his success this past season, averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from deep and 90 percent from the free throw line. He’s developed into one of the best stretch fours in the entire league, and will now continue to thrive in Utah as he tries to help them get back to postseason contention in the post-Mitchell era.More news: Warriors Still Pursuing Trades After Lauri Markkanen News
