Chicago Bulls: 3 teams that offer the worst situation for Lauri Markkanen

Restricted free agency is fast approaching for the Chicago Bulls‘ fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen. He is the most high-profile impending free agent for the Bulls this summer, restricted or unrestricted. But he also seems to be one of the impending free agents least likely to return next season with the team.

Markkanen is likely to just occupy too much cap space and too valuable of a spot in the rotation for the front office to want to re-sign him this summer. Head coach Billy Donovan removing him from the starting unit post-trade deadline also didn’t help Markkanen’s case either.

Chicago Bulls PF Lauri Markkanen could pick and choose his next destination carefully

As he will probably command a price tag of at least $12 million annually on his next contract, Markkanen would occupy most of the cap space the Bulls have this offseason. That would be money used better elsewhere by the front office to fill more glaring holes in the rotation.

Markkanen looks set to have a good number of suitors after him in restricted free agency. But not all of those teams going after him will offer him the best situation heading into next season and beyond. It will be important for Markkanen himself to know what would be best for him if he is done in Chicago.

So what are some of the potential landing spots that Markkanen should avoid in free agency this summer if possible? Here’s a look at three teams that would offer some of the worst situations for Markkanen to find himself in this offseason.