Nikola Mirotic already isn’t happy that Bobby Portis is playing while he himself recovers from injuries sustained during a physical altercation between the two. And now he has another reason to wear an indefinite frowny face: Rookie Lauri Markkanen has the Chicago Bulls’ starting power forward spot on lock—so much so that Mirotic’s return won’t force them to change anything.
From the Chicago Tribune‘s K.C. Johnson:
Fred Hoiberg said it hasn’t yet been determined whether Nikola Mirotic will travel on the Bulls‘ four-game trip that begins Sunday in Phoenix.
What is settled is who will be the starting power forward when Mirotic is physically cleared to play.
“I would say Lauri (Markkanen) is our starter moving forward,” Hoiberg said.
This makes sense. Markkanen has been playing really well of late. He’s averaging 14. 5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game on the season while shooting 43.3 percent overall and just over 35.1 percent from deep. He’s also part of a rando-Bulls lineup featuring Jerian Grant, David Nwaba, Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday that, entering Wednesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, had outscored opponents by more than 20 total points, according to NBA.com. (And no, this isn’t even kind of, sort a typo.)
Mirotic, meanwhile, doesn’t figure into the Bulls’ long-term plans. Many expect the Bulls to trade him after his restriction lifts on Jan. 15, and even if he sticks around, he turns 27 in February. His timeline doesn’t really align with that of a team rebuilding from the ground up. Markkanen is only 20 and, as of now, one of the few true cornerstone options the Bulls have at their disposal. They should most definitely be prioritizing his development over the re-integration of a player who not only doesn’t factor into their big picture, but who might not even want to be part of their short-term setup.
