1. Lauri Markkanen, Power Forward
Contract: $5.3 million
The two seventh overall picks in the first round of the NBA Draft for the Chicago Bulls in 2017 and 2018 sit on pretty much the same rookie scale contract. It’s just that third-year power forward Lauri Markkanen will be one year closer to a potential contract extension than his frontcourt partner in crime Carter Jr.
The Bulls have to be hoping that the 2019-20 campaign is finally the time when the 22-year-old Markkanen takes that leap to rising stardom. Markkanen was a participant in the Rising Stars Challenge the past two years, but hasn’t made that stride yet to consistently prove can lead this team.
The biggest challenge for Markkanen in his first two seasons in the NBA was staying healthy. He played in 68 games during his rookie campaign and 52 last season. He appears to be healthy and ready to go for Training Camp and the preseason, but load management will be important for him early on.
Considering Markkanen and LaVine are the two best potential budding stars for the Bulls this year, having one of them cost less than $6 million annually is a steal for the time being. Markkanen will be due a big payday, though, come the summer of 2021. But the Bulls need to take advantage of his rookie scale until that point arrives.