CHICAGO -- The seventh overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and one of the Bulls larger assets, Lauri Markkanen, will be a free agent this summer.

This should not be surprising to most. Markkanen took a big step backward last season, and the Bulls have a completely new front office that needs to figure out who is worth keeping around. Why would Arturas Karnisovas handcuff himself with a $75-90 million dollar contract extension for a player that may not be the answer?

Markkanen Will Be A Restricted Free Agent 

Even though he will technically be a free agent, the Bulls can match any offer sheet thrown in Markkanen's direction this summer. Simply put, no one knows what kind of a player he is or what kind of a player he could be. In his rookie season, Markkanen showed flashes of lights-out shooting but followed up that season with significant drops in every offensive category asides from attempted free throws. To be fair, playing under Jim Boylen most-likely contributed to his struggles. He also played 338 fewer minutes than he did in his rookie season. Boylen had no idea how to use the stretch power forward, and that was obvious.

Will The New Environment Help Lauri?

Only time will tell here, too. Boylen developed a horrible reputation around the league and with his players because of the pressure he put on them night-in and night-out. The Bulls have one of the youngest rosters in the league, and Billy Donovan understands that. He knows it's going to take time to make this team a contender. Jim Boylen compared Luke Kornet to Robert Horry. Boylen expected to win every game, threw tantrums on the sidelines, and benched his best players when they were losing. While there's nothing wrong with wanting to win, the consistent pressure and public criticism Boylen gave to guys like Markkanen had to have weighed heavily on them. With a professional coach that provides a professional work environment, the hope is Markkanen will find his niche and begin to thrive. But if that doesn't happen, and there's been no reason it will, Karnisovas will simply pivot and take his team in a different direction.

What Does Markkanen Need To Prove? 

The quick answer: A lot. The NBA has evolved so much over the past four to five seasons. Scoring and three-point shooting are up to record amounts, while stretch forwards and seven-footers are being asked to do more than just box-out and play defense. In 2020, the best teams have stretch forwards or centers that can do it all. For the Lakers, it's Anthony Davis. For the Nuggets, it's Nikola Jokic. For the Bucks, it's Giannis Antetokounmpo. For the Nets, it's Kevin Durant. I'm not saying Markkanen is going to be any of those guys, but I am saying he needs to start progressing in that direction for him to get a sizable, new contract. All of the names that I just listed have changed the NBA into a completely new game than it was a decade ago. The Bulls have a young core of players that have high ceilings, but to pay a stretch big that has yet to show you he's the answer would not have been smart. Karnisovas continues to play the long game, and Bulls fans need to stay the course.