The Bulls hope that Lauri Markkanen can be the face of the franchise, and Mark Strotman of NBC Sports Chicago believes the big man has the potential to be just that.
Strotman chronicles Markkanen’s first two seasons in the NBA and examines the moves Chicago has made to build a team around its power forward.
Here’s more from the NBA’s Central Division:
- Zach LaVine should benefit from a new and healthy Bulls rotation, Strotman writes (in a separate piece). LaVine carried the team for parts of last season — only James Harden had a higher usage rate in October and November. Starting the season with Markkanen healthy and new talent on board should help ease LaVine’s burden and allow him to be more efficient.
- Point guard Malcolm Brogdon is the Pacers‘ X-Factor, Chad Smith of Basketball Insiders contends. Indiana should be a solid playoff team next season, though their ceiling may be determined by what they get out of Brogdon.
- Keith Langlois of NBA.com examines what goals Svi Mykhailiuk should strive for next season. Decision-making was among the areas Langlois pinpoints for improvement for the Pistons‘ wing.
