Why the 2022-2023 season is huge for Cavs’ Lauri Markkanen

While most Americans were having a good time enjoying the Fourth of July festivities this past weekend, Lauri Markkanen was representing Finland in 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. Facing a tough Croatia squad that was led by Bogdan Bogdanovic and Ivica Zubac, Markkanen hit the go-ahead three-pointer with four seconds left to send the Croatians packing. Markkanen finished the game with 19 points while shooting 7-for-15 from the field.

Unbeknownst to many, Markkanen hit a good amount of shots like that for the Cleveland Cavaliers this past season. After acquiring the Finnish wing before last season in a sign-and-trade, he played a big role in the Cavaliers success. Averaging just under 15 points per game, he shot 45% from the field and 36% from three-point range.

Before joining the Cavaliers, he was mostly used as a stretch-four for the Chicago Bulls. However, the Cavs decided to flip the script on the entire league this year, slotting Markkanen into the starting lineup at the small forward position regularly, when the team had Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen available.

After losing Collin Sexton for most of the season due to injury, the outlook was bleak for the Cavs. But, Markkanen was the next man up and he thrived this past season on the perimeter. Now with his second season in Cleveland on the horizon, there are a lot of questions surrounding him and the Cavs in general.

Do they stick with the “huge” lineup that worked so well last year when those guys were healthy? After the team drafted Ochai Agbaji with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, will J.B. Bickerstaff opt to go back to a more traditional lineup?

Time will give us an answer on those questions. No matter what though, one thing is certain, it’s a huge year for Markkanen and his career.