Boston Celtics Free Agency: Pick-a-player in the central division

Chicago Bulls – Lauri Markkanen

For the Chicago Bulls, if I had to pick a player for the Boston Celtics to pursue it would have to be Lauri “The Marksman” Markkanen. His nickname speaks for itself.

Markkanen could be the consistent stretch four that the Celtics have been looking for over the past couple seasons. He has four seasons under his belt and with him being so young still, there’s a ton of room to grow.

This season has seen him fall out of the starting lineup into a reserve role. This not only caused a dip in production but also caused Markkanen’s future in Chicago to be gone with the wind.

Needing a change of scenery, he’d be a perfect fit in Boston. His age and current skillset fits the Celtics’ timeline to win now and for years to come. Coming to Boston would allow him to play with true offensive playmakers in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown along with allowing him the opportunity to learn under one of the best coaches in basketball in recent years.

He’s an efficient scorer that doesn’t constantly need the ball in his hands. His playstyle should fit right into what the Celtics should be trying to do, play through the young stars. While he’s not the most glamorous free agent signing, he could be a crucial piece in the C’s success for the next few seasons.

The expectation is that he’ll be leaving in free agency, so why not take a shot at joining an Eastern Conference rival.