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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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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 12, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 12, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

2. Time to iron out inconsistencies

What the coaching staff for the Chicago Bulls should also be focusing on right now with Markkanen is his ability to reflect on the 2018-19 season. Where it all went wrong and the foundation of his torrid scoring streak through the end of January and throughout February could be indicators of how to improve his play heading into the future.

Markkanen might be the most important part of this rebuild for the Bulls. He’s one of those new-age talents that has the ability to defend a number of opposing positional threats and score from about anywhere on the floor. He is what a number of teams are searching to build around.

This strategy from the Bulls to build around LaVine and Markkanen pretty closely mirrors what the Dallas Mavericks are trying to do out in the Western Conference between Kristaps Porzingis and rookie Luka Doncic. LaVine is the ball-dominant guard that can make things happen in the blink of an eye like Doncic and Markkanen is the “unicorn” seven-footer that can space the floor like Porzingis.

But, both the Bulls and the Mavericks are looking at spots in the NBA standings at or near the bottom to round out this regular season. Each team was hoping for better results out of this regular season, but each also has something clear in mind to build around. This is somewhat of a learning path for the Bulls to build off of.

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