Free agent Lauri Markkanen has agreed to a sign and trade that will send him to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team deal.
The Trail Blazers will get Lary Nance, while the Bulls will receive Derrick Jones Jr., a protected first rounder from Portland and Denver’s protected 2023 second rounder. Shams Charania had the full details.
Bulls: Derrick Jones Jr., Portland protected first-rounder, Denver protected 2023 second-rounder
Cavaliers: Lauri Markkanen
Trail Blazers: Larry Nance Jr. https://t.co/slpHsB08cm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2021
Markkanen was a first-round pick by the Bulls in 2017 out of Arizona. While he made the All-rookie team and had a solid second season in the league, his numbers have dipped. He fell out of favor with former head coach Jim Boylen and then Billy Donovan last season.
Although Markkanen was a free agent, the sign and trade allows him to earn more money than most teams have available to them. He will join a young core in Cleveland who will be making a push for the playoffs.
Portland is getting a rotational big man in Nance who can rebound and defend well. He averaged 6.7 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game for the Cavaliers last season in 31.2 minutes played per game.
The Bulls receive Jones Jr. from Portland who averaged 6.8 points per game last season. They also received the draft compensation, which is an extraordinary return for a player that wasn’t considering re-signing with the team.
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