One of the most important questions facing the Bulls this summer will be what to do with Lauri Markkanen, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Once considered the future of the franchise, Markkanen had a decline in production in his fourth NBA season. He lost his starting job at midseason and is headed toward restricted free agency without a clear role on the team.
Markkanen has taken a lot of heat for his down year and his seemingly poor fit alongside center Nikola Vucevic, who was acquired at the trade deadline. However, coach Billy Donovan said critics need to understand how Markkanen has adapted to changing circumstances.
“You’re talking about a guy who has a shoulder injury, misses quite a bit of time, comes back after the All-Star break, plays a couple games and then we have an entirely different team and now he has to re-invent himself and find himself, that’s a lot,” Donovan said. “The one thing I’ve always asked Lauri to do is compete and play and maximize the time you’re out there for the benefit of the team. And he has always done that. And I respect and appreciate that from him.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- The Bulls expected to move into the playoff picture after shaking up their team at the deadline, but the results have been disappointing. Vucevic suggests too much may have been expected right away, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘When you make a trade midseason, a lot of things change, and sometimes it takes more time [to jell],’’ Vucevic said. ‘‘Unfortunately, we didn’t have that. It is disappointing we didn’t achieve our goal, so we have to be realistic and say we failed at that. But the only thing we can do is move forward and hopefully use that as motivation going into next year.’’
- Chicago currently has just seven players under contract for next season and may want to consider creating even more cap space by unloading Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky, who both have modest partial guarantees, Cowley adds in a separate story. Young’s $14.19MM contract and and Satoransky’s $10MM deal will both become fully guaranteed August 1.
- Rookie forward Patrick Williams had one of his best games today, scoring a career-high 24 points in a loss to the Nets, writes Sam Smith of NBA.com. Williams said he has started looking to score more often as the season winds down. “This is definitely the Patrick that they want to see,” he said. “Of course, a little bit more that I did today. This is the player that they want me to be. It takes some getting used to, especially for me, because it’s not natural to go out there and be aggressive. But this is who I’ve gotta be in order to be the player that I want to be in this league. I’m up for the challenge.”
Lauri Markkanren
My best guess last year
Bulls offer $56 million
He wanted 72 million
Compare to Bogdan Bogdan
For now
His market value is 3 years $40 million
Compare to Kuzma
The will keep Lauri if the price remains 3/40 or less. Any more than that and I see a sign and trade. One of Sato or Young has to go to free up salary to fill out the roster. I’d prefer to unload Sato and find an actual playmaker to run point, freeing up Coby to play spark plug off the bench as the third guard. Resign Theis. Let Pat play the 4 alongside Vuch and find a 3 and D starting wing for SF.
They can only do a sign and trade if someone else wants to pay him that much and give up something in return as well. Seems kind of unlikely.
Unless of course the Bulls are willing to take a bad contract in return.
You realize someone will want to pay him. Maybe even your Rockets. Then you can change your name again. So ridiculous.
Buuurn
I think it’s pretty clear they’re going to let him walk. They didn’t even try to extend him and went all in for Vooch, who’s going to play 30+ mpg, and who is basically unplayable with LM.
Maybe someone really wants him and can’t afford him so offers a great S/T for Chicago, but I kind of doubt it. Either way I don’t think he’s in CHI next year.
Daniel Theis
Market value is 3 years $30 million
Compare to Jae Crowder and Kleber
Bulls won’t have salary cap to acquire any good player
Mark > Thunder or Spurs. Bulls can match, but will they?
I was thinking the same thing mane. OKC or spurs makes sense. Why remain why the bulls when the relationship is tarnished? Unless he’s one of those guys who is a yes man…
doubt it
Why would the bulls want to keep Markkanen??? Better to pursue Bamba or Collins.
Markkanen to OKC…
Bulls are a mess. They’ve had some good young talent there. Leave up to Donovan to blow it Again. At one time I was really intrigued with LaVine in NY. But now I believe we are better off with a shooter-scorer. Plus it would take too much to trade for him, In a sign n trade. LaVine should walk.
The Bulls can take a ‘wait and see’ approach with Markkanen. See if and what the rest of the league will offer Markkanen. If none of the other teams make an offer for Markkanen, I think that the Bulls are only obligated to javing to offer Markkanen about $9 million+ for a one year deal.
Think the Bulls situation all revolves on if and what it will take to sign LaVine to an extension. Maybe the Bulls can sign another FA or two before an extension to LaVine just so the Bulls can make bigger offers to FAs. It is obvious that LaVine will be looking for a $180 million dollar package.
I would keep Young and Satoransky for the final year of their contracts. Unless of course if they and/or their contracts are needed to acquire someone better.
Didn’t realize keeping Mark was a question at this point, I’ve been assuming he’s as good as gone.
The more pressing question IMO is who they’re going to try and surround LaVine and Vooch with next season. Seems like the pressure will be on to get the right mix bc clearly they didn’t have it this year.