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According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Charlotte Hornets are showing strong interest in an offer sheet for Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen.
The Charlotte Hornets have emerged with strong interest in a potential offer sheet for Chicago restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. RFAs can begin signing sheets Friday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2021
The language in this tweet is basically code for "the Hornets are going to sign Lauri Markkanen to an offer sheet once they are allowed to do so."
Terms of the deal are not available yet. It's likely this will be a part of the sign-and-trades already happening with the Bulls and Pelicans. The Bulls will likely match-and-trade Markkanen, which will tie into the deals that have Devonte' Graham going to the Pelicans and Lonzo Ball going to the Bulls, among other pieces.
Markkanen can play both the 4 and the 5. He's a good rebounder and a good outside shooter, and last year he was greatly improved as a finisher inside the arc. He would add more depth, size, and shooting to the Hornets front court.
He's also 24 years old for those of you that care about timelines.