Chicago Bulls: 3 free agent targets to pair with Zach LaVine
By Zane Harris
Free-agency goals for the Chicago Bulls: 3. Re-sign Lauri Markkanen and extend Zach LaVine
The first thing that the Chicago Bulls should do in free agency is resigning Lauri Markkanen and giving Zach LaVine a contract extension.
Markkanen has not shown much growth as a player since he entered this league. Comparing his rookie season to this season, the only major improvement he has made to his game has been 3-point percentage. If anything, it could be argued that Markkanen has regressed more than anything since joining the league.
Despite this, he has become more efficient. He is shooting a career-high field goal and 3-point percentage.
This can be explained away as having a lesser role in the offense since his rookie year. However, after drafting him, it was expected that he would be a franchise-level player.
Even though Markkanen has fallen short of the expectations set for him when he entered the league, he is still a good player.
A stretch five that shoots 40.2 percent from three is something that would be a big loss for the Bulls if they plan on making playoff pushes for years to come.
Even if they are not, Markkanen would be a hot commodity on the trade market. No matter Chicago’s plan for Markkanen in the future, it is essential that they resign him in free agency.
Along with this, they need to make sure that they extend LaVine as soon as possible.
He is the deciding factor in the future of the team. If he decides that he wants to resign with the Bulls, they will immediately go into a win-now mentality.
However, if he chooses to move on from the Bulls, it is best that they find out now and try to move on from aging veterans.