Chicago Bulls: Landing Spot for Lauri Markkanen – San Antonio Spurs
Last but not least comes the San Antonio Spurs as a potential fit in a trade with the Chicago Bulls. The Spurs have surprised most this season and could be on their way to a playoff appearance. While that’s always good, it certainly prevents them from acquiring another lottery pick to put alongside what is an underrated young core being assembled.
If they value Markkanen, which is very possible, they may find the price to add him well worth taking a chance on. In addition to future draft assets, the Spurs have options of players that the Bulls would certainly value in return for their sharpshooting big man.
Players such as Derrick White and Drew Eubanks are worthy fliers for the Bulls as they could be role players that fit the new direction the team is trending towards. It’s not the most appealing names for the fan base to see, but the fan base tends to want the big move always. That isn’t how successful organizations view trades.
Chicago would be adding still young players that they have roles for moving forward and will allow players such as LaVine and rookie Patrick Williams to thrive. If the Bulls no longer view Markkanen as a franchise-changing player, which all signs point to, adding players that can be a part of the team for years to come on reasonable contracts makes a load of sense.
It’s about building something long-term, and the Spurs would be getting the chance to develop Markkanen into the player he showed potential to become earlier in his NBA career. This kind of move makes sense for both franchises as they look to make minor adjustments to get creative in finding their way back to the top of the NBA mountain.