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The Cleveland Cavaliers big man Lauri Markkanen found himself in a forest, but among the tall trees of northeastern Ohio, the young Finn sees a path to avoid getting lost. Luckily for Markkanen, Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff gave him the license to expand his game and prove he’s more than just a shooter.
Going through Chris Fedor from Cleveland.com:
“It’s more than just a sniper. He can catch and shoot on the move, but he also has an offensive play where you can give him the ball in isolation situations, and he can also go and get you a bucket there.
“I don’t want to make him feel like he just has to stay behind that line and chase them.” I want him to play basketball and I want him to take all the punches.
The Cavs trusted Markkanen for $ 67million when they struck the multi-team signing and trade deal involving the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers.
Despite a low year in 2020-21, Markkanen shot the ball again in an impressive three-to-one 40% clip. At the Cavs’ Wine and Gold scrum on Saturday afternoon, the 2017 lottery pick burned downtown, hitting six 3-pointers en route to a 20-point performance in just 10 minutes of play.
In the middle of the front stalemate, Markkanen offers a rare weapon to the Cavs. With the exception of Kevin Love who is expected to play fewer minutes this season, Markkanen is the only big man who can stroke him effectively from long distance.
Such an attribute will allow him to be on the ground often, giving the 7ft player more opportunities to showcase his other skills for the Cavs.
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