Lauri Markkanen wanted out of Chicago and in a new city asap, and it appears he has finally gotten that wish. Markkanen was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday as part of a sign-and-trade deal involving the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Bulls will get Derrick Jones Jr., a lottery-protected future first-round pick from Portland and a future second-round pick from Cleveland. The Blazers are getting Larry Nance Jr. in the deal.
Markkanen will join a young Cleveland nucleus that includes guards Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, forward Evan Mobley, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, forward Isaac Okoro, and center Jarrett Allen. Markkanen posted career lows across the board last season with the Bulls, averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game.
Advertisement
A new situation for Markkanen might serve him well. He wasn’t going to get many minutes with the Bulls revamping their roster and adding key new players like Demar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball.