Since the Chicago Bulls front office provided little to no clear direction at the trade deadline of where this rebuild is headed in its third year, it’s hard to know how they will piece together the frontcourt rotation this summer. Heading into the offseason, it’s like that GarPax will continue to put the emphasis around Markkanen and center Wendell Carter Jr. for this rebuild.
Markkanen and WCJ haven’t done anything over the course of the last two years to prove that they can stay healthy over the long haul. Both are currently sidelined with various ailments and this could be the second straight year that each plays in less than 60 games.
However, where do the Bulls look if they are going to try and find a new direction at the top of their frontcourt depth chart?
If the Bulls want to really make a big splash trade deal during the upcoming offseason, it could involve the Central Division foe Indiana Pacers and standout former Texas Longhorns center Myles Turner. The 2018-19 blocks title holder and former All-Rookie Team honoree Turner clashes with fellow Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis.
It seems like the Pacers front office will decide to either keep Turner or Sabonis over the long haul, not both. But it could work out well if the Bulls start to develop Carter Jr. to increase his range or want Markkanen to continue to develop his floor spacing and dynamic facilitating ability. Turner could cover up the defensive deficiencies of the seven-footer Markkanen down low, and could help the off-ball awareness and stretch ability of Carter Jr. at the five.