NBA Week 12 Power Rankings: Questions for each team after the break
By Corey Rausch
Last Week: Lost to Philadelphia 76ers 127-105, Lost to Miami Heat 101-90
This Week: 3/14 vs. Toronto Raptors, 3/16 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 3/17 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 3/19 at Denver Nuggets
Question: Will Otto Porter Jr. be the only veteran on the move?
Otto Porter Jr. is the veteran of the week for the Chicago Bulls that has been hinted at heading to the buyout market. It makes sense, as the Chicago Bulls focus on a youth movement that is finally starting to fit in place. Patrick Williams, the number four overall pick last season, is the future for the Bulls, making Porter expendable.
Thaddeus Young has been a popular trade target but the role he plays for the Bulls as a leader is tough to put a price on. The offers will undoubtedly start coming in for his services but will it be enough to pry him away from a locker room that needs him?
The rest of the veterans for the Bulls are hit or miss. The ultimate trade chip for the Bulls is if they decide to move on from Lauri Markkanen. The 23-year-old is having a complicated season. He is averaging a career-high in points per game (19.4) and effective field goal percentage (63.8) On the other side, he is averaging career lows in rebounds (5.9), assists (0.9) and blocks (0.4) per game. Efficiency is important, but if the rest of his game is going to suffer, Markkanen’s long-term fit remains questionable.