Bulls Rumors: 3 sign-and-trade deals to send Lauri Markkanen to Dallas

New potential destinations are emerging for the fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen off of the restricted free agent market this summer. And multiple Bulls rumors connect what seems like half of the teams around the NBA landscape to Markkanen entering the offseason. It’s only a matter of time before we truly figure out what Markkanen’s fate will be this summer.

What does seem likely is for multiple teams to try to top the offer sheet of Markkanen. While there’s certainly still a chance that the Bulls remain a contender to sign Markkanen, it seems more likely that he leaves. The Bulls didn’t even have Markkanen in the starting five down the stretch this season.

That was really the first time in Markkanen’s career that he was a regular in a reserve role. Despite mostly coming off the bench for first-year head coach Billy Donovan post-trade deadline, Markkanen still started in more games than he was a reserve. That means he is set to get starter-level money at a minimum this offseason.

Bulls rumors now connecting Lauri Markkanen and the Dallas Mavericks

One team that is apparently jumping into the mix among teams that could pursue Markkanen in restricted free agency this summer is the Dallas Mavericks. According to a report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times on May 22, two teams to watch in pursuit of Markkanen this offseason are the Mavericks and New York Knicks.

The Mavericks reportedly like the idea of slotting Markkanen in a budding trio alongside forward Kristaps Porzingis and superstar point guard Luka Doncic. One way that the Bulls can maximize the value they get out of Markkanen before letting him walk for nothing this offseason is forming a sign-and-trade deal with the Mavericks. Here’s a look into three ways that could get done.