Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

5 goals for Lauri Markkanen to achieve during his rookie season in NBA

By Michael Whitlow

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Lauri Markkanen, PF/C, Chicago Bulls
HELSINKI, FINLAND – SEPTEMBER 5: Lauri Markkanen of Finland during the FIBA Eurobasket 2017 Group A match between Greece and Finland on September 5, 2017 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Norbert Barczyk/Press Focus/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Goal No. 4: Follow the expression as old as time … “Shooters shoot”

During his rookie season when he blossomed later in the year and the Bulls looked like they had a star of the future, Nikola Mirotic took 624 total shots, including 313 attempts from 3-point range.

The only guys to shoot more total shots on that Bulls roster during the 2014-15 season were Pau Gasol (1,153), Jimmy Butler (912), Derrick Rose (835) and Aaron Brooks (817). Mirotic also tied Brooks for the most 3-point attempts on the roster.

Here’s the capper to all of that: Mirotic only played 20.2 minutes a game, which was the ninth-most on the roster. Mirotic didn’t start seeing consistent minutes of 30+ minutes a game until March of that season when it looked like he was making some strides and finding some confidence in his game.

For Markkanen, there’s less pressure on him to come in and produce right away. He’s not even the projected starter for the Bulls as of now. That’s on Mirotic, who may or may not even be with the Bulls moving into the season because of his contract issues. Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg and the front office have had discussions about the young core of this roster and heading into year one of the rebuild, we’re going to see what the young guys can really do and that includes Markkanen.

Markkanen shot 42.3 percent from deep during his one season at Arizona on 163 total attempts from 3 and then shot 47.8 percent from deep on 47.8 percent from 3 on 23 total attempts in EuroBasket.

This is where the Dirk Nowitzki comparisons came from. Markkanen can really shoot the basketball and Hoiberg needs to make sure he gets a chance to let it fly for the Bulls in his first year.

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