Chicago Bulls: 3 goals for Lauri Markkanen in 2018-19

1. Lead the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs

While some Bulls fans favor another tanking season and an opportunity at a higher lottery pick, this team is simply too talented for that. This might not be a playoff team just yet, but it should be every star player’s goal to make the playoffs every season. Markkanen will be no different, and the Bulls could be in the running for a lower seed next spring.

The reality is, with Markkanen leading the squad and teaming with LaVine and Parker, Chicago may surprise people this season. The addition of Wendell Carter Jr. should only make Markkanen’s job even easier, as he should be able to play more to his strengths with Carter manning the middle.

To achieve star status in the NBA, players have get their teams to the playoffs and win a series or two once they’re in. Lauri Markkanen is a bright young player, but in order for him to be mentioned in the same breath as draft mates Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum, his team has to win and he has to be the reason for their success. If Mitchell can lead the Utah Jazz to the playoffs in the West as a rookie, Markkanen should be able to do the same in the East in his sophomore season.

Lauri Markkanen should continue to improve in 2018-19 and the Chicago Bulls have built a roster full of talented young players. They’re building something exciting in the Windy City. While there are question marks surrounding the team, there is little doubt that Markkanen is their best player.

If he can achieve all three of these goals this season, we will start hearing Markkanen’s name mentioned more prominently as a bona fide star.