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The NBA offseason isn’t over just yet! According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Lauri Markkanen is finally on the move after many rumors regarding the talented big man. The Chicago Bulls are sending him to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a massive sign-and-trade after the NBA offseason had been at a standstill.
Cleveland is acquiring Chicago restricted free agent F Lauri Markkanen on a four-year, $67M deal in a sign-and-trade, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2021
That is a ton of money for Markkanen, and there seems to be a third team in the deal as well. According to Woj, the Portland Trail Blazers have hopped in and helped facilitate the trade, and the Blazers are getting Larry Nance Jr. as part of the deal in an NBA shocker.
ESPN Sources: Cleveland’s acquiring Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen in three-way sign and trade with Portland. Bulls get Derrick Jones Jr., POR’s lottery protected future 1st and Cavs’ future second-rounder. POR gets Larry Nance Jr. https://t.co/CgN3mhaLHY
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2021
Blazers pick is protected 1-14 through 2028. It becomes Portland 2028 second-round pick if not conveyed before then, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2021
This is a big deal, and this finally puts to bed the endless rumors surrounding where — or if — Markkanen was going to be dealt after the Bulls added DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso in the offseason.
This NBA free agency period has been a wild one, and it seemed destined for Markkanen to take his talents elsewhere. However, the Cavs are certainly a surprising team to be joining in for the big man, and the roster construction in Cleveland is an interesting one, to say the least. As for the Blazers, getting Nance is a stellar move to help out Damian Lillard and the defense.
Overall, this is an impactful three-team trade to spice up the doldrums of the offseason.