Betting: NBA Playoffs | June 7

In an interview with ESPN 700, Utah Jazz beat writer Tony Jones offered some insight into where Lauri Markkanen is at with his future. That future involves Markkanen wanting to stay with the Jazz.

“Lauri has really taken to Utah. His family has taken to Utah,” Jones said. “Obviously the Jazz can trade him between now and Aug 6th, and Lauri knows that, but Lauri has forged a really close relationship to Will Hardy. And Will has really found a way to unlock his career”

Markkanen becomes eligible to sign a contract extension on August 6. Speculation has been that Markkanen and Utah could work out a renegotiation-and-extension. In that scenario, the Jazz would use some of their remaining cap space to up Markkanen’s salary for this season, while tacking additional years onto his contract.

Jones said that Markkanen could delay that signing by a day or more, as opposed to signing right on August 6. A renegotiation-and-extension deal comes with a six-month trade restriction. If Markkanen extends on August 6, he’d be trade eligible on trade deadline day of February 6. By delaying an extension, Markkanen would make himself ineligible to be traded this season.

Ultimately, Jones said he feels it is unlikely that the Jazz will trade Markkanen at any point this offseason or season.

Glen Taylor will remain as controlling owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves after Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez did not close on their option by the March 27th deadline.

Lore and Rodriguez agreed to purchase the Wolves in 2021 at a valuation of $1.5 billion. The deal allowed them to purchase 20 percent of the team in July 2021, 20 percent more in 2022 and 40 percent more in 2023.

Lore and Rodriguez were expected to have Dyal Capital Partners finance the final purchase. According to reporting from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the necessary financing had been secured by Lore and Rodriguez, but Taylor contends that they didn’t meet contractual deadlines. Wojnarowski also reports that the relationship between Taylor and his successors, Lore and Rodriguez, had disintegrated since they agreed to the sale.

“I will continue to work with Marc, Alex and the rest of the ownership group to ensure our teams have the necessary resources to compete at the highest levels on and off the court,” said Taylor. “The Timberwolves and Lynx are no longer for sale.”

Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic confirmed that Taylor will not put the franchise back up for sale if he retains his controlling interest.

Sources also tell The Athletic that the purchase agreements calls for mediation and arbitration to resolve any disputes. Under terms of the agreement, Lore and Rodriguez will retain the 40 percent of the franchise they have already purchased.

Lore and Rodriguez released the following statement in response:

“We are disappointed with Glen Taylor’s public statement today. We have fulfilled our obligations, have all necessary funding and are fully committed to closing our purchase of the team as soon as the NBA completes its approval process. Glen Taylor’s statement is an unfortunate case of seller’s remorse that is short sighted and disruptive to the team and the fans during a historic winning season.”