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Chicago Bulls: 5 reasons Lauri Markkanen NBA’s next superstar

By Andrew Miller

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 08, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 08, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 30: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat contests the shot by Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls on January 30, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 30: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat contests the shot by Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls on January 30, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Reliable from deep

Lauri Markkanen is going to have a lot more room now to make things happen in the front court and help space the floor since fellow forwards Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker are now with the Wizards. The usage rate for Markkanen, slightly under 25 percent, could skyrocket in the upcoming games.

The usage rates for Portis and Parker in their latter games with the Bulls were through the roof compared to how much the ball should be in their hands. Granted, Portis did have a big performance in his Wizards debut. Portis tried to prove that the Bulls immediately made the wrong move by dishing him out to the nation’s capital.

However, Portis wasn’t worth the money the Bulls would’ve had to shell out to keep him this off-season. Markkanen fits better for the direction the Bulls seem to be heading in, which is the complete opposite of what the team tried to do under former head coach Tom Thibodeau. The acquisition of Porter Jr. puts that fact on display.

Markkanen is the perfect player to build a front court around since he is starting to be able to hit his pull-up shots from almost anywhere on the floor. Not only is he shooting more from deep this season, he’s more efficient. Markkanen is hitting 39.3 percent of his looks from beyond the arc, while taking more than eight three-point attempts per game.

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