Chicago Bulls: How committed are they to each starter?

Power Forward Lauri Markkanen

Commitment Level: 95%

This one is easy. Anything short of an unbelievably-lopsided deal and Lauri Markkanen is staying in Chicago for years to come. You can’t find guys like this just anywhere. The Bulls may have come away with the steal of the draft two years ago when they selected Markkanen.

What has impressed me most about Markkanen is his efforts to improve overall as a player. Even beyond the stat sheets, Markkanen has taken his physical fitness to a whole different level since becoming a pro. He realized that putting on a good amount of muscle would benefit his game greatly, so he went and did it.

Yet, he still possesses freakish athleticism for a 7-foot big man from Finland. Seriously, think about it. It’s rare that you find a guy like this who can throw down a windmill dunk with ease — and Markkanan can do just that.

Markkanen is the franchise cornerstone, and the front office said so a year ago. Their focus remains to build around him, first and foremost. Every other player on this roster would go before Markkanen did, and that’s a fact. He is a threat in multiple ways, and in Year 3, I can’t wait to see where his game goes.