2 reasons not to pursue restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen: Too expensive
For many players this deep into free agency, the lack of available money on the market means they can be signed at a bargain price. That is not the case for Lauri Markkanen, as even nine days into free agency the cost to add him will still be quite high.
Markkanen is a restricted free agent, meaning the Chicago Bulls will have the ability to match any contract offer he agrees to with another team. While Markkanen is not the best fit playing alongside Nikola Vucevic in the frontcourt, the Bulls have a need in the frontcourt and seem likely to match any reasonable offer for Markkanen to move him later.
The Cavs currently have the full mid-level exception to offer, which would amount to a four-year deal of around $41 million. That’s the kind of contract that is very tradeable and the Bulls will almost certainly match. To dissuade Chicago from doing so, the Cavs would need to send an asset back. Giving up a good young player or a future first-round pick completely evaporates any value the Cavs might be getting with the contract terms.
There is also no indication that Markkanen is ready to accept a contract number that low. His qualifying offer of $9 million is high enough that he could play on it for one season and then be an unrestricted free agent, able to sign anywhere. If he needs a higher starting salary the Cavs would need to work out a sign-and-trade with money heading back to the Bulls, or find a third team to move a player to.
Lauri Markkanen simply isn’t worth that cost to the Cavs, whether in salary or in trade assets.