Chicago Bulls: 4 free agents that could fill Markkanen’s role
9.0 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.8 AST. player. 73. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 16.4 PER. Paul Millsap. 1
For anyone who has been following Chicago Bulls’ free agency fan predictions, this one should come as no surprise. Paul Millsap is the quintessential veteran leader every young team needs to steer the locker room towards success. Ironically, the Bulls already had this player in Thaddeus Young, but Markkanen’s insistence on getting paid worked out at Chicago’s expense.
The logical solution here would be to pursue Millsap, who has 15 years and over 1000 games of NBA experience under his belt. Millsap has played for three teams across his career, having endeared himself to the fanbase of each one.
It’s surprising Millsap is actually even still available at this point in free agency. Considering the Nuggets are already pushing against the luxury tax threshold, and Michael Porter Jr. elevating his game and proving he’s the future, Millsap is left out of the long-term picture in Denver.
Millsap is certainly no longer his 2015-16 All-Defense self, but his high basketball IQ and size still make him a positive on the defensive end. He is a well-rounded player with the ability to rebound, defend, and even do a little playmaking. Most surprisingly, Millsap has developed a decently consistent shot, making 37.8 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc over the last three seasons.
Sliding in Millsap behind Williams gives the Bulls the most flexibility of any of the remaining free agent options. He’s a jack of all trades that can bolster the bench, as well as seamlessly integrate with the starting lineup when necessary. That’s not something I could say about Vanderbilt, Biyombo, or Aldridge.
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The only thing that remains to be seen is how much Millsap is looking to sign for in free agency, but since the big man has made nearly $200 million over the course of his career it may not be a deal-breaker. Even so, Chicago still holds a few avenues to getting a deal done with either their bi-annual exception and $5 million trade exception. The sooner the Chicago Bulls have their replacement for Lauri Markkanen, the better.