(670 The Score) There are a couple players the Bulls aren’t much interested in trading and thus hang up the phone in short order when opposing teams inquire about them.
Big man Lauri Markkanen isn’t one of those players. The Bulls are listening to trade offers for Markkanen, Shams Charania of the Athletic reported Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately clear who the suitors were. The NBA trade deadline looms Thursday afternoon.
Markkanen and the Bulls failed to reached a long-term extension ahead of the deadline last December, putting him on a path for restricted free agency this summer. The sides were about $4 million apart on the salary in the first year of the proposed deal, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago has reported.
Markkanen, 23, is having a solid offensive season in averaging 17.7 points on 48.3% shooting. The trouble is he hasn’t affected games much outside of being a catch-and-shoot player, with his defense, rebounding and free-throw rate all raising red flags. Markkanen has also had trouble staying healthy during his four-year NBA career. He has played in 22 games this season, missing significant chunks of time due to a shoulder injury and also after landing in the league’s health and safety protocols.