Chicago Bulls: 3 players that could breakout with Boylen gone

2. Lauri Markkanen, Power Forward

Definitely the most notable name to watch, if he sticks around in the Windy City beyond this offseason, to potentially breakout now that Boylen is gone is the fourth-year former Arizona Wildcats seven-footer and power forward Lauri Markkanen. There was no more disappointing run this season for any Bulls player than Markkanen.

The hope that was once there for Markkanen to emerge as a star in his second or third season in the NBA is mostly dwindled down. Now the Bulls front office has to be hoping that he could just salvage some of the promise he’s showed to be a quality starter on a consistent basis. It would also help if he could spend one full season healthy in this league.

The 2017-18 All-Rookie Team selection Markkanen posted mostly career lows both in terms of per game averages, shooting percentages, and advanced metrics. He played in 50 games in the season that was for the Bulls (starting in all of them). Markkanen averaged 14.7 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. He 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 a career worst -0.5 box plus/minus rating, 56.0 true shooting percentage, .084 win shares per 48 minutes, and a 0.5 value over replacement player rating.

The future for Markkanen in the Windy City hinges on the plans that Karnisovas and Eversley have for him as a cornerstone of this young core heading into the fourth year of the rebuild. If they don’t feel like he will be the right fit with whoever the next head coach is, then he could be out the door.

But there’s likely nowhere to go but up from here for Markkanen, as long as he’s able to stay mostly healthy.