Chicago Bulls: 5 takeaways from 2017 NBA Summer League

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 11: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls dunks against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 Summer League on July 11, 2017 at Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Lauri Markkanen shows potential

There was a little pressure for Markkanen coming into the Summer League. In all honesty, some of that comes with the territory when you’re the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft. Considering that he buried 42 percent of his attempts from distance in his lone college season, these summer games could determine whether Markkanen was ready to succeed at the next level.

In his debut against the Dallas Mavericks, he scored 14 points to go along with eight rebounds and a pair of assists. The next outing against the Atlanta Hawks did not go quite as well.

In that contest, he scored eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. However, he shot just 1-for-13 from the floor, including a forgettable 0-for-10 from deep.

Fortunately, Markkanen followed up that less-than-stellar performance with his best game of the tournament. In the Bulls’ 82-73 win over the Washington Wizards, Markkanen proved he could play with the big boys.

He posted his first double-double, scoring 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Not only that, he went 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. Another bit of good news that is worth mentioning is he recorded five blocks in his last two contests after averaging less than a block per game as a member of the Arizona Wildcats.

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If he can continue to improve at both ends of the floor, Markkanen has the potential to become the consistent stretch-4 player the Bulls have been searching for over the past few seasons.

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