NEWSLETTER
Four days into free agency, we finally have a “strong” Lauri Markkanen suitor.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets have emerged as a potential landing spot for the big man, and it appears an offer sheet could come soon.
The Charlotte Hornets have emerged with strong interest in a potential offer sheet for Chicago restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. RFAs can begin signing sheets Friday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2021
The most interest we have seen around Markkanen thus far came from the San Antonio Spurs. As the Bulls front office looked to make a sign-and-trade work for DeMar DeRozan, Markkanen’s name was involved. However, despite the Spurs’ interest, the 23-year-old reportedly had too high of an asking price. Arturas Karnisovas instead had to send the Spurs Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, and draft compensation to make the deal work.
Markkanen’s name was first attached to the Hornets when a rumored three-team trade leaked ahead of free agency. The idea seemed to be that the Bulls would land Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans would take Devonte’ Graham, and the Hornets would add Markkanen, per The New York Posts’ Kristien Winfield. Ultimately, the Pelicans struck a deal with the Hornets for Graham individually, as did the Bulls with the Pelicans for Ball. Markkanen may have been left out of the picture, but I guess the interest from Charlotte is alive and well.
The Hornets are one of the few teams out there left with workable cap space. If they wanted to attack Markkanen with an offer sheet, they very well could go that route. The Bulls would then be in a situation where they either have to match or scare the Hornets into a sign-and-trade. The latter is obviously preferred, but it is not going to be easy to do. With all the money the Bulls now have tied up into their free agency additions, they do not have much leverage. Also, the simple fact that everyone (and their mother) knows AKME has been trying to move off Markkanen does not help the cause.
But, hey, perhaps Karnisovas has a couple more savvy moves up his sleeve! We’d all love to stash some draft capital or at least add a potential roster member in return.
