2) Chicago Bulls with a lot to prove in regular season
Potentially the most disappointing Bulls player from last season was the fourth-year former Arizona Wildcats seven-footer and power forward Lauri Markkanen. The former seventh overall pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves (soon after landed with the Bulls) in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft has yet to consistently live up to the hype.
Markkanen is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and extension talks don’t sound like they’re going well so far. Markkanen could still command a large price tag when it comes time for him to hit the restricted free agent market next offseason. But he has to prove he’s worth that lofty price tag before that time can come.
During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Markkanen played in 50 games for the Bulls (all of which he started in). And he averaged 14.7 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. Markkanen shot 42.5 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.
And Basketball-Reference projects Markkanen to average 19.1 points per 36 minutes, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks, during the 2020-21 season. He’s projected to shoot 43.9 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.4 percent from the free-throw line.
A bounce back season is needed more from Markkanen than likely any other player on this Bulls roster. He’s an integral part of this young core, and one it sounds like Karnisovas wants to buy into over the long haul.