(670 The Score) In an expected move, the Bulls have extended big man Lauri Markkanen his qualifying offer, Shams Charania of the Athletic reported Friday evening.
The move makes Markkanen a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulls will have matching rights on any offer sheet he receives. NBA free agency is set to open Monday. Markkanen is expected to have “several suitors,” Charania reported.
The expectation across the NBA is that Markkanen will end up elsewhere when the chaos of free agency ends, as he lost his starting job in Chicago last season and his stature devolved from potential cornerstone piece to role player.
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Markkanen's qualifying offer is a one-year deal worth around $9 million. Save for rare circumstances, players usually don't sign qualifying offers, as they can get more money on a longer deal in free agency.
Markkanen, 24, averaged career-low marks of 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game in the 2020-’21 season. He shot 48.0% from the field and 40.2% on 3-pointers. Markkanen played in 51 games, starting 26.