Top 3 assets Chicago Bulls can use to bolster their squad in the 2021 NBA off-season

#1 Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls might willingly let Lauri Markkanen walk away via restricted free agency in the 2021 NBA off-season. However, it would be in the best interest of the franchise to try and get something in return.

The 2021-22 NBA season will be the fifth for Lauri Markkanen in his career, and the former seventh pick of the 2017 NBA Draft has shown glimpses of huge ability. In reality, Markkanen's biggest issue of his career has been durability, as he's been plagued by injuries quite often.

What could an advantageous Lauri Markkanen-Lonzo Ball trade look like for the Bulls and Pels. https://t.co/x1sbPAjqEi

— Pippen Ain't Easy (@BullsBeatBlog) June 12, 2021

Last year, Markkanen missed 15 games with a shoulder injury and then lost his spot in the starting lineup following Nikola Vucevic's arrival. Despite having his best offensive game in terms of efficiency (he put up career highs on offense last year after hitting 48% of his field goals and 40.2% of his threes).

A sign-and-trade would be sensible for the Chicago Bulls and for the Finnish forward, as he might not be a starter for coach Billy Donovan and might be unhappy with the role he ended last season with.

A free agent the Wolves might surprisingly be interested in:“How about Lauri Markkanen?”@JonKrawczynski's new mailbag: https://t.co/hbm7x9Wy5s pic.twitter.com/Og5bevx3Jl

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 16, 2021

With deficiencies on the backcourt, the Chicago Bulls could use Markkanen as another player who can go to a different team and get a necessary player in return.

In 221 career games in the NBA, Markkanen averages 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game with 44/36/84 shooting splits.

Last season, he put up career lows on points per game (13.6) and rebounds per game (5.3). However, he also averaged just 25.8 minutes per game, the lowest of his career so far.

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