Lauri Markkanen is entering the final year of his rookie scale deal with the Chicago Bulls this season. At this point, however, reports state that the 23-year-old has yet to come to terms with the teams with regards to an extension
As a matter of fact, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports that Markkanen and the Bulls are not even close to agreeing to terms on a new deal:
Barring a dramatic change on Monday's deadline day, Lauri Markkanen will be joining the ranks of restricted free agency next offseason. Talks on his rookie extension continued Sunday but sputtered on life support. Sources said the gap remains wide.
The good news for Chicago here is that even if Markkanen does not sign an extension, the fact that he will be a restricted free agent next summer means that the Bulls will have the first refusal to sign him. That is, Chicago will have the option to match whatever offer Markkanen is able to get from an opposing team.
For what it's worth, the 7-foot big man is slated to pocket $6.7 million this season. He's likely looking for a significant pay bump in his next deal, which at this point, Chicago seems unwilling to give him.
Markkanen, who started the preseason with a bit of a shooting slump, played well for the Bulls on Friday in a 105-103 preseason win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former seventh overall pick finished with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, to go along with four triples, five rebounds, an assist, and a block in 26 minutes of action.
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