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2017 NBA Draft: 5 potential busts

By Josh Cornelissen

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lonzo Ball (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lonzo Ball (UCLA) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number two overall pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lauri Markkanen (Arizona) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number seven overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lauri Markkanen (Arizona) is introduced by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as the number seven overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Lauri Markkanen (No. 7) — Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls had engaged in trade talks for Jimmy Butler since two trade deadlines ago, coming to the brink on 2016 draft night last year before pulling back. This year, they came to the brink and didn’t back away, dealing Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a three-piece package.

Zach LaVine is the most accomplished piece of that package, but he is recovering from a torn ACL and almost certainly will not be ready to start the season. Kris Dunn was a highly touted prospect last season, but failed to make any sort of an offensive impact last year for the Timberwolves. That means Bulls fans will be looking to Lauri Markkanen to show them Chicago was right to move Jimmy Butler.

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The 7’0″ teenager from Finland — the first player of Finnish birth ever selected in the NBA first round — brings one elite talent to the table in pursuit of living up to his draft slot. He is a shooter, one of the absolute best in the draft, and perhaps instantly the best shooter for his position in the league as a rookie. His stroke is fluid, smooth and effective, and he will hit plenty of shots his rookie season.

The problem is that the Bulls don’t have any shooters to put around him. Despite boasting a collection of five point guards, none of them has an outside shot. Dwyane Wade only hits three-pointers in the postseason. Nikola Mirotic is supposed to be a stretch-4 but he couldn’t hit shots last year. Markkanen could stand alone in the Chicago rotation.

That means his defender will stay glued to Markkanen at all times, and he will need to show he can score while guarded. Does he have a move to attack closeouts? What happens when teams run him off the three-point line? And can Fred Hoiberg afford to play him in crunch time if he is the complete disaster on defense he projects to be?

These questions are reasonable for a player taken seventh overall, but Markkanen doesn’t have the luxury of taking his time. This Chicago fan base is expecting the next Kristaps Porzingis, if not the next Dirk Nowitzki. Can Markkanen hold up that end of a bargain? He will need to be great, and that just might not be in the cards.

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