Lauri Markkanen

The Chicago Bulls and Lauri Markkanen were discussing a contract extension at the beginning of the 2020-21 season last year, but the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, as K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports reported in December 2020 that the two sides were “$4 million apart for the starting salary figure in the first year of a multiyear deal.”

Now, after seeing his role decline during the 2020-21 season due to injuries, Markkanen still finds himself as a restricted free agent that does not appear to want to remain in Chicago. Back on August 6, Markkanen spoke to Finnish journalist Antti-Jussi Sipilä and stated “We have offers from several different teams. I want a fresh start to my NBA career somewhere else.”

The San Antonio Spurs were a team interested in Lauri Markkanen back when they were discussing the sign-and-trade details for DeMar DeRozan going to Chicago and they were trying to get a deal done to acquire Markkanen from Chicago in this deal, but they were unwilling to match the price that the young big man wanted. 

The Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves are two teams that sources have mentioned to NBA Analysis Network as two possible destinations for the former lottery pick, but again, no move seems imminent. Minnesota’s cap situation is a little tight right now, so acquiring Markkanen via a sign-and-trade would be difficult, but Dallas does have an opening to acquire him. 

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They still have a little bit of cap space to work with and they are well under the tax threshold right now, so the Mavericks could actually be able to pull off a sign-and-trade for Lauri Markkanen, but the question that remains is whether or not they are interested in giving up Maxi Kleber, who the Chicago Bulls seem to be interested in according to Tim Cato of The Athletic. 

Given the cap situations of other teams around the league, the Mavericks are definitely the team that makes the most sense to go after Markkanen at this point, but there are scenarios in which he could end up somewhere else. Washington could be a team that frees up a chunk of cap space in a trade to acquire him and do not count out Toronto in what they may be able to do because nobody really knows what the future holds for some of their key guys. 

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Orlando and Oklahoma City are also two teams that could have interest in Markkanen should he come down on price since they are both rebuilding and looking to add young frontcourt talents. Most guys do not receive a ton of interest two weeks after free agency begins, but Lauri Markkanen is in a different situation than many that have come before him since he is a high-level, young talent in this league. 

It is not a question of whether or not he will be playing in the NBA during the 2021-22 season, but more of where Markkanen will be playing when next season tips off in October. A deal is not imminent for the young forward, but it is looking like he will end up on a new team in the coming weeks.