After adding Nikola Vucevic at the NBA trade deadline this year, many believed that the Chicago Bulls would have enough firepower to sneak into the play-in tournament, but then they were hit by some injuries, as well as Zach LaVine being put into the league’s health and safety protocols for about two weeks. 

Chicago’s season fell apart after all of this occurred, resulting in them falling 2 games short of the Hornets for the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have now missed the playoffs for four consecutive years, their longest playoff drought since the start of the 1998-99 season, the season after the “Last Dance season.” 

READ MORE: NBA Trade Rumors: Lauri Markkanen privately prefers landing with the Mavericks

So where do the Bulls go from here after yet another disappointing season? Well, both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are under contract through next season and Coby White is also a key member of this team moving forward, but the future of Lauri Markkanen is yet to be decided. He will be a name to watch in NBA trade rumors as the action of the offseason approaches.

The 24-year-old 7-footer is set to become a restricted free agent and after he and the Bulls failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract-extension prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, there is a lot of speculation that other teams could make a big play at the Finnish big man. One of those teams who reportedly will be interested in Marrkkane in free agency are the Dallas Mavericks. 

With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavericks have made the playoffs for the second-consecutive season, but with expectations for them making it far being slim, Dallas will be looking to make some moves in the offseason. 

Could Dallas look to add Lauri Markkanen and create a really strong shooting frontcourt with him and Porzingis side-by-side? Let’s take a look at an option the Chicago Bulls have where they could potentially execute a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks centered around Lauri Markkanen.