Power Forward
Starter: Lauri Markkanen
Despite the two big acquisitions for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Draft and free agency this offseason, the two sparks for the offense should be LaVine and to-be third-year power forward Lauri Markkanen. LaVine and Markkanen both have the highest ceilings on this team and just need to keep progressing in good health.
Is this the year that we see the “unicorns” finally stay healthy and excel? if Markkanen and Kristaps Porzingis for the Dallas Mavericks can stay healthy, they could both be making appearances in the All-Star Game. The Mavericks really have to be hoping that Porzingis can play a full season since they signed him down to a long-term max contract.
Markkanen does need to command a higher usage rate than he did last season. Consistently getting the ball in his hands could help steady out his shooting percentages. There were a lot of good signs in the development of Markkanen’s game last season. He got to the free throw line more, grabbed more rebounds, and facilitated at a higher level.
I don’t think that Markkanen will ever reach the point of consistency that we saw out of him during the month of February. If that was his consistent level of play, he could come close to the level of MVP contention. The shooting ability and physical tools of Markkanen definitely make him a breakout candidate this coming season.