Lauri Markkanen doesn’t do big-picture questions.
So when the Bulls forward was asked on Tuesday if the latest rash of injuries — including his own — could play a factor in the front office being buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, well, of course Markkanen colored inside the lines.
“You’re really thinking far ahead, man,’’ he said with a chuckle. “Yeah, we don’t worry about that stuff. We come in every day just trying to get better and help the team.’’
Smart answer. Naïve if the fourth-year player actually believes it, but definitely smart.
The fact is that while there have been huge improvements with this product from game-to-game, the standings are still the standings. The Bulls dropped to 9-14 after the loss to Washington on Monday — just a game better than they were at this point last season — and are now down four bodies in the frontcourt with Markkanen (shoulder sprain), Wendell Carter Jr. (quadriceps), Otto Porter Jr. (back) and Chandler Hutchison (personal reasons) each on the shelf with blurry timetables for a return.
And oh by the way, the next five games are against the Pelicans, Clippers, Pacers, Hornets and 76ers.
While executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is still in the evaluation process, at least according to Billy Donovan, the coach knows that at some point soon a real conversation is going to have to take place about the immediate future of this roster make-up.
“I think one of the things we’re going to probably sit down and say, ‘OK, what do we want the identity of a Bulls player to look like? What does that look like for us?’ ‘’ Donovan said. “And I think we’ve probably got to get to that point where we have that type of discussion, but I think before you can have that, these guys have done everything they could as far as putting their best foot forward. I really feel like they bought in on trying to get better, trying to improve each and every day. Are there some flaws? Are there some deficiencies, are there some areas that we’re just not as good as we want to be? Absolutely. Dealing with some injuries? That doesn’t help.
“I think for me, these guys, not knowing them and then getting a chance to work with them, I don’t know if all of a sudden after 20, 21 games, I think Arturas, just my time with him, is a very patient guy, and he’s a very observant guy, and he’s a very, very bright guy. I think he’s evaluating everything and looking at everything, and I really trust and believe he’s going to want to make decisions that I know are going to help the Chicago Bulls. And I know at the appropriate time he and I will talk about those things.’’
What the Bulls could have working in their favor is if things continue to sputter, they may be operating in a seller’s market.
Many of the high-ticket players from the projected 2021 free-agent class are already gone, and with the playoffs being expanded there will likely be more buyers than sellers as the deadline approaches.
Unless the name “Williams’’ is on the back of the jersey, no Bulls player is untouchable, and heck, even Williams has a price.
But first the front office has to get to that point.
The reality of the next few weeks could speed that process up.
“I’m not going to ultimately at the end of the day be making those decisions,’’ Donovan said. “Using the words buyer or seller, whatever it may be, I think it’s Arturas’ job to do the best job he can for the organization.’’
