OKC Thunder: 2 free agents worth throwing major money at
By Mark Nilon
OKC Thunder free agent target No. 1) Lauri Markkanen
In the midst of a fantastic contract-season with the Bulls, fourth-year big man Lauri Markkanen seemingly finds himself on the outside looking in when it comes to Chicago’s future plans.
Coming into the season, the 23-year-old and the franchise already had a rumored rocky relationship after the two parties couldn’t come to terms on a contract extension.
Now, despite playing some of his best basketball since entering into the league back in 2017, the team has gone about and lessened his role considerably within the rotation, with their most recent move seeing them take him out of the starting five and, in turn, relegating him to a bench role where, to his credit, he’s managed to shine.
On the year, Markkanen is posting impressive per-game averages of 16.4 points and 5.7 rebounds on 49 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent shooting from deep.
A legitimate 7-footer with reliable floor-spacing abilities (36 percent shooter for his career), the Finish-born baller could be the exact type of frontcourt player the OKC Thunder could use in order to help turn Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into a legitimate All-NBA candidate.
At his young age, Lauri Markkanen fits the timeline of the team’s young core while his specific skillset appears as though it could really help compliment the team as a whole.