Boston Celtics: PAE names 4 Bulls in potential Marcus Smart deal

Lauri Markkanen

The floor-stretching leap was made by former #7 pick Lauri Markkanen in his fourth season, as he finally reached 40% shooting from beyond the arc in almost six attempts per game. Even still, he collected the fewest points and rebounds per game totals of his career in a season that saw Chicago fail to even qualify for the NBA Play-in Tournament.

Given their hiring of proven successful head coach Billy Donovan and midseason acquisition for Vucevic–not to mention the fact that 27 ppg Zach Lavine is their headliner–the Bulls should have done more this past season. That they lost more than they one after posturing to make the postseason is damning and demoting Markkanen ahead of his restricted free agency likely rubbed the Finnish power forward the wrong way.

It is far from a stretch to think that Markkanen could look for greener pastures in his free agency foray, and negotiating a sign-and-trade involving Smart could be an option for Brad Stevens if he can free up the necessary cap space.

Denzel Valentine

Denzel Valentine is a true trade throw-in, as he has never capitalized on the potential he flashed as a Michigan State Spartan under Tom Izzo. His marks across the board are average, but perhaps a change in scenery could be what the doctor ordered for the 27-year-old.

The Cs would add yet another #14 pick to a roster that already includes Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith.