Chicago Bulls: 3 trades to consider with Boston Celtics before deadline

Lauri Markkanen’s future with the Chicago Bulls is nixed in this trade

If the Celtics want to specifically add a shooter with size, then look no further. Lauri Markkanen fits that ideology perfectly.

He’s been a tough one to figure out over his time in Chicago, though. It appeared Jim Boylen tried to ruin Markkanen, asking him to stop being so aggressive and simply pick and pop from beyond the arc. It was odd, to say the least. Markkanen had just spent an entire summer adding muscle and focusing on being a more physical player only to have his coach put a stop to that style the following season.

This year, though, Markkanen has taken a step forward. He’s still far from a finished product, but he’s shooting much better from beyond the arc — and that’s something Bulls fans were wondering if they’d ever see come to fruition.

Markkanen is shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range this year and putting up 19.6 points per game — but that’s about it. He’s a decent rebounder, but those numbers have taken a step back this season as opposed to previous years (a career-low 6.2 per game).

He won’t give the Celtics much more than shooting with size, but if that’s what they want, then that’s what they’ll get. The Bulls get a first-rounder, which is almost assumed at this point for a guy putting up around 20 per game and a contender needing to add one more piece. Chicago also gets young forward Grant Williams, who may or may not be part of their future plans.