Projected starting five if the Chicago Bulls draft LaMelo Ball

Power Forward: Lauri Markkanen

Unlike that of shooting guard or center, power forward could be a hotly contested spot in the starting five for the Bulls next season. While power forward might have the most potential to be a deep part of the rotation that the coaching staff that can rely upon night in and night out, it also could be the most volatile.

At the top of the power forward rotation at least at the outset of next season should be the fourth-year former Arizona Wildcats seven-footer Lauri Markkanen. And behind him on the current roster lies other forwards like veteran Thaddeus Young and occasionally the Brazilian 6-foot-10 and 270 pound big man Cristiano Felicio.

Depending on where else the Bulls go in the NBA Draft or free agency, the new front office might try to dramatically shift what the power forward depth looks like behind Markkanen. Or if they have an even more bold idea in mind, they could look for where they could send Markkanen in a possible trade package before his rookie contract runs up (next offseason).

In the season that was for the Bulls, Markkanen played in 50 games (starting in every single one of them). He averaged 14.7 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. Lauri shot 42.5 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line. That amounted to an effective field goal percentage of 51.7 and a 56.0.

There’s a lot of areas in which Lauri needs to improve in his fourth year in the NBA. But most of all, the Bulls need to put him in a more advantageous situation and install more depth at the four behind him in the rotation.