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2017 NBA Summer League: 5 biggest disappointments

By Max Holm

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls blocks the shot 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)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls blocks the shot 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) /
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Chicago Bulls
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images /

1. Lauri Markkanen and the Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls were in for a few rough years the minute the return for Jimmy Butler was revealed. Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and the seventh overall pick seemed a bit low for Butler, and represented an extremely flawed package.

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Dunn is coming off a terrible rookie season, LaVine is coming off an ACL injury and the Bulls passed on elite point guards for Lauri Markkanen, a player with arguably the lowest ceiling of anyone in the top-nine. To add insult to injury, they threw in the 16th pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then chose money over Jordan Bell in the second round.

So when Summer League came around, Twitter had a field day with the Bulls roster. It featured at least five players, including Markkanen and Dunn, expected to be a part of their rotation this year. When all five players stunk up Summer League, it made it seem as though the Bulls might be the worst team in the NBA next season.

Markkanen couldn’t hit many threes and shot under 30 percent from the field. Dunn and Cameron Payne were awful offensively, as was Denzel Valentine.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

The Bulls got robbed in the Butler trade and outside LaVine, they don’t appear to have any type of serious young talent going forward. Bulls fans better like college basketball, because their future is likely in the lottery for a long time.