Earlier this week rumors started churning that Lauri Markkanen may want out of Chicago after this season. On ESPN 1000 this morning that point was solidified by David Kaplan.
Based on that statement it’s clear that the Bulls only need to do one thing to keep Markkanen with the team. It’s something that fans across the country would love to see, fire Jim Boylen. Markkanen probably isn’t the only player who feels this way especially after the season the Bulls had.
Does Markkanen have enough power for this to matter?
If this were brought up prior to the beginning of this season the answer would be vastly different than it is right now. Markkanen was coming off a promising sophomore season and looked like his progression would continue. Markkanen struggled mightily in Boylen’s offense this year averaging 14.7 ppg this year and career lows in three-point percentage and rebounds. So, coming off this season the answer simply is, no.
The problem here is Lauri is only 22 years old and has plenty of upside to his game to just let him go. Keeping in mind that he still has two years left on his contract the Bulls have a decision to make. With the search beginning for a new head of basketball operations, this decision may be one that we have to wait on.
What could a new front office mean for this situation?
There are a few different routes that someone new in the front office could take. The first, and most obvious, fire Jim Boylen. Boylen has been bashed by the media and fans all season and no one would be sad to see him go. He has frustrated players outside of Lauri and doesn’t seem to have a grasp on this team. Boylen hasn’t proven to be a leader in his tenure as head coach and it would be hard to see a new GM wanting to keep him around.
The alternate option would be to use Lauri in a trade package. If Boylen stays, the Bulls can see what offers are out there for Markkanen. He’s young and has upside so I would imagine the Bulls would be able to find a favorable deal. Whatever trade possibility could be out there the Bulls would still need to weigh their options. Was Markkanen’s bad year due to him regressing or was it due to the coach? The debate could go either way when it comes to his play. However, that’s something that the new Bulls front office will need to address.
As a Bulls fan, it would be nice to see Jim pack his bags, especially with a new front office. The Bulls need to clean house and start fresh, whether that be to keep Lauri or not I think most fans would like to see that change.
