Lauri Markkanen is showing that boom-or-bust potential through three games in Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 08: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls stands on the court as he warms up before a 2017 Summer League game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dallas won 91-75. 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. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 08: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls stands on the court as he warms up before a 2017 Summer League game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dallas won 91-75. 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. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Just three summer league games into his young NBA career, we’re already on the Lauri Markkanen bust watch. What we’ve seen has been like preseason football; it hasn’t shown us a lot, but it’s something. So far, there’s a seething case for him being a true boom-or-bust prospect.

There’s an air around Lauri Markkanen, the Chicago Bulls’ first-round draft pick, that screams of a proverbial 50/50 ball.

Parts of each Bulls fan see a new Dirk Nowitzki and others who see Channing Frye. For the Nowitzki case, it’s the combination of the hard-to-spell last name and offensive prowess. On the other hand, the Frye case presents the offensive mindset, but a lack of defensive IQ.

What we have through three summer league outings out in Las Vegas?

I want to focus on the more recent pairings, although I’ll make a note of the first game. In the Bulls’ 91-75 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, was for a lack of a better word, fine. Scoring 14 points on 5-of-11 from the field (2-of-5 from 3), eight rebounds and two assists looked fine.

However, in the Bulls’ second game, a 75-55 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, we saw the “bust” emerge. His eight points were reasonable, but his 1-of-13 from the field and 0-of-10 from 3  was atrocious. Credit Markkanen for being good in other areas of the floor, as he still posted nine rebounds and a crazy four blocks in the contest.

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That Markkanen disappeared on Wednesday in the win over the Wizards, but the 7-foot rookie looked unfazed by his previous poor outing.

During Chicago’s 82-73 win over the Washington Wizards, Markkanen was the wiz. (I’m sorry.) Markkanen hit 4-of-10 from deep (6-of-17 overall), grabbed 10 boards (4 offensive at that) and looked much more physical on defense.

He looked like a “boom” prospect. He scored 20 points in the win and had a plus/minus of +15. He was simply a different dude.

Until you’re face-to-face with LeBron James, James Harden, etc., it’s hard to know what we’ll see from these prospects. However, watching these games looked like a three-answer multiple choice problem; “boom”, “bust” or just “fine”.

There is a reason Markkanen was incredibly high on the draft board of many teams, as he could very well be a special NBA player. There is a reason he was the clear alpha on an Arizona Wildcats team that entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed.

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Watching Markkanen play this season will be intriguing. This guy has a floor and ceiling that have plenty of distance in between. In a season that looks … bleak to say the least, this kid is a great place to focus our eyes.