Most important Chicago Bulls players to watch next season

2. Lauri Markkanen

I am not going to lie. I think the Chicago Bulls made a mistake when they drafted Lauri Markkanen with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. I do not care how many point guards this team has, Dennis Smith Jr. was the best player on the board and the Bulls made a significant mistake that they will regret for years when they passed him up. However, there is still a lot to like about Markkanen’s game.

I mean, he is a seven-footer who has a sweet stroke from the outside. In his only season in college, Markkanen hit an impressive 42% from three-point range. Make no mistake about it, this big guy can shoot. At worst, Markkanen will be a strong outside shooter who can space the floor a bit for the Chicago Bulls.

However, the rest of his game needs a ton of work.

Makkanen has the size to be a significant difference maker on the post, but he simply did not show that ability in college. The seven-footer out of Arizona seemed far more comfortable on the perimeter, not showing the strength or toughness to bang on the inside. Markkanen collected an impressive 7.2 rebounds per game for the Wildcats, but I have a hard time believing that he will be able to do the same at the NBA level.

Markkanen will be able to make an impact as a stretch four in the NBA. He is too tall and too good of a shooter for that not to happen. However, if he is really going to be an impact player for the Bulls, he needs to be able to be a stretch five.

In today’s NBA, having a legitimate five who can stretch the floor is absolutely deadly. However, you still have to be able to have a presence on the inside. Right now, Markkanen cannot defend the five position in the NBA. Plus, his rim protection skills are extremely lacking.

I think he has the ability to get to that level, but he simply has to show more toughness on the inside. If Markkanen can grow into a passable defensive center, his upside goes through the roof. Seeing if he has the ability to do that is one of the most important things to watch for the Chicago Bulls in the 2017-18 season.