Bulls Rumors: Lauri Markkanen set to explore free agency

Now that first-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls have officially wrapped up their regular season slate, it’s time to turn the attention to what change lies ahead this offseason. Bulls rumors are already starting to circulate concerning what could happen with some of the top looming free agents off of this roster.

A current Bulls player to watch that is set to hit restricted free agency this offseason is the fourth-year former Arizona Wildcats power forward Lauri Markkanen. This 24-year-old seven-footer saw a lot of his playing time and role in the Bulls frontcourt rotation decline down the stretch in the season that was. The writing looked to be on the wall for Markkanen’s status heading into the offseason.

According to a report from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago on May 17, Markkanen looks set to test the free agent market. Discussions did not work out between Markkanen and the Bulls front office in terms of figuring out a contract extension.

Any certain contract figures that the Bulls might’ve offered Markkanen weren’t disclosed in any concrete report heading into the offseason.

Bulls rumors indicating the future for Lauri Markkanen

A possibility does exist that the Bulls could pull off a sign-and-trade deal to at least get some value out of Markkanen before he walks. The Bulls also could still match his offer sheet and try to bring him back for at least one more year. But it seems like the chances are greater that Markkanen walks than sticks around heading into next season at this point.

Donovan seemingly didn’t like the frontcourt pairing in the starting unit between Markkanen and the newly acquired star center Nikola Vucevic. Since Vucevic now appears to be an integral part of the Bulls core along with star shooting guard Zach LaVine, the future looks bleak for Markkanen in Chicago.

Markkanen is set to get starter-level money in restricted free agency this offseason since he started in 26 of the 51 games he played in during the 2020-21 regular season. And given that he shot a career-best 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc, his asking price could still be pretty high.

If the Bulls want to pursue another star in either free agency or on the trade block this offseason, they might need the cap room free instead of trying to re-sign Markkanen off of restricted free agency. There are a lot of looming decisions that the Bulls front office has to make in connection with Markkanen this offseason.

The Bulls finished up the 2020-21 regular season with a record of 31-41 following their May 16 win at home at the United Center over the divisional foe Milwaukee Bucks. Despite beating the Bucks last weekend, the Bulls still missed the postseason for the fourth year in a row.