Cavs: 3 reasons why the Lauri Markkanen deal was a good idea

The Cleveland Cavaliers finally made a free agency move! But it might not be the one many expected. The Cavs acquired Lauri Markkanen via sign-and-trade from the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal that included the Portland Trail Blazers. In the deal, the Trail Blazers received Larry Nance Jr., the Bulls received Derrick Jones Jr., a protected first, and a second-round pick, and the Cavaliers received Lauri Markkanen, paying the seven-footer $67 million over four years.

Initial reactions seem to be even on this deal; the Cavs acquire a unique young player but give up a beloved player that improved the culture of the team. Getting a player who better fits the timeline of the young core makes sense and is more of a move for the future.

The Cavs add a dynamic shooter in Lauri Markkanen. Was the trade a good deal?

Looking at the newly acquired Markkanen, after having a strong start to his career, his play has plateaued over the last couple of seasons. Poor coaching and an inconsistent role last season have seemed to attribute to the plateau. His disappointing play isn’t all on the front office, however, as injuries and offensive inconsistencies are issues that Markkanen has to correct. A new environment may be the key for Markkanen to live up to his 7th overall pick potential.

Overall, the trade is a good one for the Cavaliers, in my opinion, and in today’s article, I will state three reasons why that is the case.