Do the Jazz have that? Nobody knows with exactness.

Making Lauri Markkanen a cornerstone of the rebuilding process has given the Utah Jazz a clearer direction of where the franchise wants to go in trying to become an NBA playoff contender again. The Jazz extended Markkanen’s contract in August,

Fresh off a newly inked extension, the Finnish star is ready for the challenges ahead with the rebuilding Jazz.

The Finnish seven-footer signed an extension in August knowing that this season in Salt Lake City could be a tough one for the Jazz.

While Valimaki is one of many Finnish NHL players — case and point: Utah HC forward Mattias Maccelli also hails from Finland — Markkanen is more of a rare breed. He is one of just three Finnish basketball players ever to have reached the NBA.

Lauri Markkanen's offseason fate seemed uncertain all the way up to August 7, when he renegotiated and extended his contract