Chicago Bulls: 5 goals for Lauri Markkanen in the 2020-21 season

Lauri Markkanen’s second goal: Improve as a 3-point shooter

Bulls fans are more than comfortable when they see an open Lauri Markkanen catch a pass behind the 3-point line off a drive and kick move from Coby White or Zach LaVine. It’s a shot he’s proven he can knock down over the course of three seasons. He must continue to shoot the open three when defenses collapse on Chicago’s guards, who have the proven ability to create when they penetrate the paint. However, Lauri also must begin knocking down the shot with the regularity with which he shot it in his second season in order to be effective.

Last season Markkanen shot a career-worst 34.4 percent from 3-point land. That’s down from the 36.1 percent he shot from deep in his second season. Although the comparison may be premature, many have observed that Markkanen could be a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki under the right circumstances. The two players are about the same height, possess a similar skill set, and Lauri is more athletic than Dirk was.

One of the main differences, though, is that Dirk was without question a knockdown shooter. In the 2007 season, he joined the hallowed 50/40/90 club while averaging 24.6 points per game on his way to MVP honors. While no one in Chicago is ready to heap those types of expectations on Markkanen’s young shoulders, Dirk’s game provides a blueprint for what he could look like if he takes advantage of his unique skill set.

Aiming to shoot 40.0 percent from 3-point territory next year is a good place to start.