Lauri Markkanen will test the free agent waters, regardless of whether the Bulls extend a qualifying offer, he told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
“My thing is I think I’ve always been a team-first guy. And I think now it’s time to look at the business side of the game,” Markkanen said. “I feel like I’m only 23 years old and I have a lot of basketball ahead of me. It’s a good opportunity to look what’s out there for me. I can be a focal point. I think I have a lot more to offer.”
The qualifying offer to make Markkanen a restricted free agent is worth approximately $9MM. It’s unclear just how much the Bulls want him back, though executive VP of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas diplomatically said on Monday, “I think Lauri is an important part of our team. I’m looking forward to talking to his representation.” (Twitter link).
Markkanen turned down the Bulls’ extension offer in December when they couldn’t agree on the numbers. There was roughly a $4MM-per-year gap between the parties, according to Johnson.
Markkanen was part of the package the Bulls offered to the Pelicans for point guard Lonzo Ball at the trade deadline, Johnson adds. Those talks fell through, but Markkanen’s playing time and role was impacted by the additions of Nikola Vučević and Daniel Theis. He was moved into a reserve role, even though he considers himself a starter.
“Obviously, our team changed a lot and changed my role,” he said. “That was a little bit of an adjustment. I tried to play my role as well as I could.”
He is a starter for the right team. Young and talented, but skillset of a role player. I think someone will bite, but don’t think he is getting a massive payday.
Lauri markannen is a terrible player, he isn’t efficient, he cant create his own shot, he plays pathetic defense, he could start sure on a team of superstars, he’s a 7 ft spot shooter who shoots 30% and averages 4.5 boards a game, he’s a poor role player at best
You’re insane , everything you just said is the exact opposite. Laurie checks the box on all of it. He can create his own shot. He does shoot a high field goal percentage (effeciant), and more then anything he’s a major match up problem because he’s able to do these things and because if his length. He could easily be a sixth man off the bench and provide instant offense and lethel 3 point shooting ability. As well as the fact that he can spot up and either shoot over opponents who have his size or drive to the basket on them, or have the ability to post up defenders who are clearly a lot shorter then him when he’s playing the three spot. His defense got a whole lot better when playing the 3 spot because he has the ability to stay in front of small forwards who try to drive to the basket on him. Bulls are going to match any offer any team makes to get him. This article also made a mistake. In the attempt to trade for ball, the bulls pulled the deal because balls team kept demanding that Laurie be part of the deal and the bulls refused. He’s staying.
Agree with you. Markkanen is a unique talent. A 6’11’ player who can shoot from deep off the dribble, put the ball on the floor, run the court, etc. Just have to be realistic. Of course Markkanen can never be the Greek Freak. Maybe the Bulls can sign Markkanen for a much lesser contract than say David Bertans. Markkanen is still very young (24 years old next season) and is now an experienced veteran. Could be a very good deal for the Bulls if say the Bulls resign Markkanen for $50 for four years.
You must be looking at someone else’s stats because Lauri shot 48% this year and has never averaged fewer than 5 boards a game.
Bulls offer Markkanren for Lonzo straight up
Also
Offer Sato and a second for Lonzo
Great idea
Lauri has little trade value
Is this DJTs burner account? Sometimes I wonder…
DJT is Donald J Trump?
Posters said I am LaVar Ball
“I’ve always been a team first guy, but after spending a few years in Chicago…eff that noise.”
Spurs have $60 million cap room
They can offer Lauri 4 years $50 million to replace Gay
He can be reborn like Wiggins
The SASpurs have had interest in him in the past …
This is actually a pretty good suggestion. I think Pop would be able to use Lauri correctly, and he’d be able to get the most out of him.
Markkanen, before Boylen and a rash of injuries, was a very talented player that was looking to build off of putting up roughly 17 and 7 night in and night out. Some games Lauri looked like a future 25 and 10 guy, that was capable of scoring at all three levels, and playing some passable defense..He was never a good defender, but he could at least do his part within a system..
Now, he looks lost, barely showing glimpses of the former player he looked to be years ago. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery, but I’m afraid if the Bulls let him walk, some other team will be getting that same 17 and 7 versatile stretch 4..
Which is why the bulls will never trade him. He’s to great of a match up problem for others teams to defend against. By the by this article got it wrong. In the lemelo ball deal the bulls are the ones who turned down the offer, not balls team. They turned it down because with everything else the bulls offered balls team kept demanding Laurie be part of the deal and the bulls simply kept refusing on that. That’s how I know Laurie is not going anywhere and I thank God for that. He’ll leave become a superstar for yrs for some other team and we’ll have to regret it all those yrs.
He’s the type of guy the Celtics need. Tatum could then play the 3 without having to play bigs on defense.
Uh…no
He doesn’t know how to play. Role player for a good team, starter for a bad team, maybe. No D at all.
“I feel like I’m only 23 years old and I have a lot of basketball ahead of me.”
Yes, you should feel like you’re 23 because you are. This kid, can’t get anything past him. Except for buckets.
This screams Timberwolves. They need a PF and made the mistake trading him to begin with.
Do the Wolves have the cap space to make a competitive offer? I think they’d have to free up some money first, after the KAT, DLo, Beasley extensions.
Hard pass on this dude. he’s made of glass and a 6th man at best like Ryan Anderson when he was good.
Markkanen needs a team that recognizes his outstanding talents as a hybrid 3/4 guy. It’s also time that he plays with a real PG for the first time, instead of a shot-chucking ballhog like career loser LaVine.
Even in college, at Arizona under crooked Sean Miller, Markkanen had to deal with another ball-handling egomaniacal chucker in Allonzo Trier.
Those criticizing Markkanen for not being able to create his own shot clearly have no clue about basketball. How many seven-footer, who create for themselves, are there in today’s NBA? Especially considering the idiotically diminished role the Bulls assigned to Markkanen immediately after his 35/17 game in October 2019. Since then he rarely got more than 10 to 15 touches and five shot attempts per game.
Imagine what Markkanen could do with a PG like T.J. McConnell, who happens to be a free agent after this season, too.
McConnell would be a good add for the Bulls, but nothing short of a miracle will make Markannen anything more than a role player.
Another guy who won’t tell the truth. Just say you are testing free agency and you want to be on a team with a plan. Stop this primary school sugar coating!