The Spurs’ interest in Lauri Markkanen makes sense, but there are roadblocks to a deal

For the better part of three years since the Spurs’ teardown and rebuild began, general manager Brian Wright and his front office team have been hoarding future draft picks, awaiting the opportunity to add a marquee veteran to the project.

The godsend of Victor Wembanyama’s arrival last June did nothing to change that aim.

Less than a week into this summer’s NBA free agency period, the Spurs’ long-held dreams of swinging a blockbuster trade to turbocharge their reconstruction efforts could be approaching a big Finnish.

The Spurs are among a handful of teams who have reached out to the Utah Jazz about the availability of sharpshooting big man Lauri Markkanen, a 27-year-old All-Star whose contract is up next summer.

In terms of being “strategically aggressive,” as Wright has described the Spurs’ approach to roster building, the team could do worse than Finland’s finest.

The 7-foot Markkanen averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds in his past two seasons with the Jazz after a forgettable start to his career in Chicago and Cleveland. In addition, Markkanen shot nearly 40% from 3-point range last season.

There is an obvious reason the Spurs would be interested in trading for Markkanen. He seems lab-created to fit in lineups next to Wembanyama.

It is unclear exactly how available Markkanen really is. That is the first rub.

Utah’s own rebuilding project appears at a crossroads.

The Jazz could be buyers this summer and seek another star to pair with Markkanen. Or they could be sellers, looking to get out of the Markkanen business before he is due a hefty contract extension next offseason.

In that case, the Jazz would no doubt be in the market for assets that would help them build for the future. That’s where the Spurs could come in.

According to various league-wide reports, Sacramento, Golden State, New Orleans and Minnesota have also registered interest in exploring a trade for Markkanen.

None of those teams could compete with the Spurs’ war chest of future first-round draft picks, which could make them an attractive trading partner for the Jazz.

Thanks to a bevy of trades beginning with the 2021 sign-and-trade of DeMar DeRozan to Chicago, the Spurs have stockpiled 11 first-round picks between now and 2031, plus four pick-swap opportunities.

The Spurs have also amassed 20 second-round picks in that frame, though those might not move the needle much in exchange for a player of Markkanen’s caliber.

If young players are needed to sweeten the pot for the Jazz, the Spurs have a handful of attractive targets in Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan or, perhaps, Devin Vassell.

The Spurs’ interest in Markkanen is not new.

They inquired about Markkanen’s availability in negotiating that the DeRozan trade with the Bulls in 2021, only to be rebuffed. Chicago instead sent Markkanen to Cleveland as part of a different deal.

If the Jazz decide to make Markkanen available, the biggest remaining hurdle for the Spurs could be price tag.

Utah executive Danny Ainge has burnished a well-earned reputation for driving a hard bargain, dating to his time in Boston.

When it comes to Markkanen, many NBA observers believe Ainge is after a package rivaling what New York surrendered for Mikal Bridges last week.

In that deal, the Knicks sent five first-round picks to Brooklyn for a player who, though solid enough, has never sniffed an All-Star nod.

If the Jazz require a Bridges-like haul for Markkanen, that could be, well, a bridge too far for the Spurs.

In addition, any team that trades for Markkanen now would want assurances he would re-sign when his contract expires. Unlike with All-Star point guard Chris Paul — who agreed to a one-year, $11-million free-agent deal to join the Spurs this week — the club does not view Markkanen as a single-season rental.

If no deal for Markkanen can be reached, expect the Spurs to continue to look for incremental ways to improve the roster throughout what is left of free agency.

It is no secret the Spurs are in the market to upgrade their perimeter shooting, with sharpshooters such as Buddy Hield, Gary Trent Jr., Malik Beasley and Gary Harris remaining on the market.

Markkanen, of course, would fill that need as well.

Time will tell if the Spurs have what it takes to get a deal for Markkanen across the Finnish line.