Cavs: Best and worst-case scenarios for Lauri Markkanen in 2021-22

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Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

Best-case for Markkanen for the Cavs in 2021-22: He looks very comfortable as the go-to bench guy, stays healthy and looks to be instant offense for the foreseeable future

I could see Markkanen filling in at the starting 4 at times for the Cavs this next season, but either way, he’ll get his share of minutes.

Now, for a best-case scenario for him, firstly, that’d involve him staying healthy, which has been an issue in his career to this point.

Luck was not on his side in that way with Chicago in recent seasons, and regardless of the COVID-19-affected past season and/or the Bulls not being an Orlando bubble team the season prior, Markkanen was active in only 50 and 51 games the past two seasons.

With the Cavaliers, it will be paramount for him to remain available, so there’s that, for one. He’s still only 24, though, so that could be the case from here, in theory. That’s not necessarily unrealistic.

So as far as the on-floor impact, in a best-case scenario for next season, I’d look for Markkanen to firmly establish himself as one of the NBA’s best sixth men, and appear to be very comfortable as the Cavs’ go-to bench scoring option.

He won’t have nearly the role of say, Darius Garland or Collin Sexton, but Markkanen is a polished shooter, and ideally, I’d hope he could fill in with key Cavaliers players pretty seamlessly.

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Granted, I personally believe that a bit of a slow start for Markkanen, with him being in a new situation with Cleveland, and needing to take some time to get acclimated with other guys, is to be expected.

Looking past that, though, with Markkanen’s deep range, high release point, even for a 7-footer, and ability to create some for himself, too, with his touch and decent ball handling for a big, he could look to be instant offense for the Cavs.

There will likely be some of an adjustment period early on, but it’s apparent that Markkanen could be a crucial bench contributor from the jump.

He’ll need to remain healthy, to drive that home, however.