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Chicago Bulls: 5 reasons resting Lauri Markkanen right move

By Andrew Miller

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Robin Lopez #42 and Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Robin Lopez #42 and Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 17: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls gets introduced into the starting lineup against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 17: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls gets introduced into the starting lineup against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Early start on workouts/training for next season

The developmental process of Markkanen with the Chicago Bulls is still in its very early stages. While Markkanen did show some flashes of what he could become at the height of his NBA career, nothing shined through consistently yet. Markkanen was one of those players that had the highest of highs and some pretty low dips this season.

At one point during the month of February with the Bulls, Markkanen posted at least 20 points in a string of a dozen straight games. He also had a stretch of three games where he posted at least 30 points in each outing to go along with a combined 49 rebounds. That was the height of his 2018-19 campaign.

There’s just no way that you can call the entire body of work for Markkanen this season as a “sophomore slump” or anything close to it. But, he did end this season on at a low-point with some up and down play that we don’t want to see him make a habit out of. Outside of one 32 point outburst against the Wizards this month, Markkanen didn’t post more than 20 points in any of his final dozen games.

Some of those numbers from Markkanen are a pretty obvious sign of need for progression and steadiness during the off-season. There was so much roster turnover between the first two years for Markkanen in the Windy City that some type of stability would be great for him and the entirety of the Bulls frontcourt heading into next season.

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