The Utah Jazz saw a major shift on their injury report ahead of Monday's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves , as Lauri Markkanen's status received an upgrade from out to questionable. The forward has been dealing with a quadriceps strain that's kept him out of action for an extended period but has the opportunity to return to the lineup for the final month of the NBA season.
Markkanen spoke to the press ahead of the Jazz's second game against the Timberwolves, saying it's important for him to get back on the floor to build chemistry with the young players and to "set a standard" closing out the year:
"[To] get better as a team and as an individual. I need to work on some things. I need to get better. At the same time, I need to build chemistry with the young guys and really get that on-court experience against the other teams, not just practice. I think we can finish out this year strong, get better, and set a standard for us."
Lauri has been out with his quad injury since March 4th, leaving him on the sidelines for the Jazz's last six games (2-4). Since the trade deadline, Markkanen hasn't had much time to work with the new roster on the floor due to the fact he was quickly banged up. As he returns to action, the goal will be to integrate him further and play together with young players like Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, and Walker Kessler to build that valuable chemistry.
Even with the implications for Utah's top-ten protected draft pick in the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, it doesn't seem to shift Markkanen's availability down the stretch. The Jazz currently hold the odds for the 9th-overall selection in this summer's draft, so they must tread carefully over this next month if they want to retain their first-rounder this offseason.
Keep an eye on Markkanen's status over the coming days as his imminent return draws near.
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