Forward Lauri Markkanen is comfortable enough with Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations, to simply walk up and ask him if he might need to start collecting moving boxes.
What he’s not comfortable with is guessing whether he’ll be moved by Thursday’s trade deadline.
“I’m not making any predictions on that,” Markkanen said Friday. “I’m going day by day and controlling what I can control. You’ve got a couple games here [on the road], and I’m just focusing on, like I said before the season, that I’m 100 percent committed. And that’s how it still is.”
It’s unknown whether the Bulls are feeling as committed to Markkanen. The sides couldn’t reach a deal on an extension — or even get reasonably close — at the December deadline. That means the No. 7 pick of the 2017 draft will be a restricted free agent this offseason if he isn’t traded first.
The impasse didn’t seem like a major stumbling block a few months ago, especially with the Bulls accustomed to letting the market set the price on players, allowing them to then decide if they want to match the amount.
But two things have changed: First, other teams are looking to make deals to free up salary-cap space for the offseason. And secondly, Markkanen — while showing some explosive moments — has been inconsistent at a time when there are already concerns about the makeup of the Bulls’ roster.
With center Wendell Carter Jr. losing his starting job and looking overwhelmed at times, coach Billy Donovan has been trying to transition him to the four a bit more — with growing pains. If Carter shows improvement in that area, does that make either him or Markkanen expendable?
As of Friday, according to a source, the Bulls have been quiet about their intentions. There has been a heavy market for veteran forward Thad Young since last month, but Karnisovas seems willing to keep him — or at least try to drive the price up.
But there’s no question Markkanen fits the profile of a second trade option for the Bulls. And it’s good he feels comfortable enough to talk to Karnisovas or Donovan about it.
“I’ve always believed you’ve got to be honest and truthful in those kinds of things,’’ Donovan said. “They are most of the time rumors and speculation. . . . You look at different things that these guys are dealing with right now, from the constant testing, to the condensed schedule. And now you’re coming up on a trade deadline. And it’s so easy to start to think and wonder and hear certain things.
“I’ve told them Arturas is a straight-up honest, really, really good person — if you’ve got a concern, just go to him. And just ask him flat-out. . . . He’ll give them exactly what’s going on. I respect that part about him, and I think Arturas wants that from the players as well.”
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Lauri Markkanen still committed to Bulls as deadline approaches - Chicago Sun-Times
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