Utah Jazz - Acquired via trade in September 2022
- Birthdate: 05/22/1997
- Drafted (NBA): 7th pick, 2017
- Pre-draft team: Arizona
- Country: Finland
- Hand: Right
- Agent: Michael Lelchitski (Sports International Group)
| Date | League | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 NBA Draft | NBA | Drafted 7th overall by Minnesota. |
| 2017 NBA Draft | NBA | Draft rights traded by Minnesota, along with Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, to Chicago in exchange for Jimmy Butler and the draft rights to Justin Patton (#16). |
| 5th July, 2017 | NBA | Signed four year, $20,389,668 rookie scale contract with Chicago. Included team options for 2019/20 and 2020/21. |
| 6th February, 2018 | G-League | Assigned by Chicago to Windy City Bulls of the G-League. |
| 6th February, 2018 | G-League | Recalled by Chicago from Windy City Bulls of the G-League. |
| 30th October, 2018 | NBA | Chicago exercised 2019/20 team option. |
| 2012 - 2014 | BC Jyasklya (Finland, 1st Division) |
| 2014 - 2016 | HBA-Marsky Helsinki (Finland, 1st Division) |
| 2016 - 2017 | Arizona (NCAA) |
| June 2017 - present | Chicago Bulls (NBA) |
June 29, 2018
Lauri Markkanen
PF – 7’0, 230lbs - 21 years old – 1 year of experience
Notwithstanding the fact that he seemed to be a bit ground down by the end of it – considering he started the summer with an impressive leadership role for Finland in EuroBasket and has never played nearly this many minutes in any season before – Markkanen had a strong rookie campaign that hinted at a versatile future.
An elite shooter, he may go on to be. Will go on to be, even. But an elite shooter, he is not merely. Markkanen can post up, drive a couple of straight-line dribbles, finish unconventional shots, and has shown plenty of reason to believe he will become an all-around offensive weapon.
Markkanen cuts and pops smartly, does not back down from his defenders, and nor does he back down from those he is defending. Developments in his ball-handling, post counters and defensive positioning – he makes pretty good plays on the ball but is not always in the right place to do so – could see him become quite the modern day NBA weapon.
A bit shot happy at times (justified by the fact that he should take the opportunity during a blatant tank to try out the Main Guy Mentality) and lacking in strength and stamina at the moment (nothing a couple of seasons of NBA strength coaching cannot fix), Markkanen looked good in his rookie campaign. One of the future frontcourt pieces is in position already.
Player Plan: Three seasons of rookie scale salary remaining. Keep it right here.