The Chicago Bulls have been trying for over a year to trade Zach LaVine, with no luck. Other teams see him as an expensive floor lifter, a player making $138 million over the next three seasons who can put up points in isolation but is vulnerable (25 games last season) and doesn’t do the little things that add up to a high. -level team success (like defending).
Chicago starts the season with LaVine and he looked sharp against Memphis on Saturday, scoring 28 and going 6-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Here’s what Bulls coach Billy Donovan said postgame about LaVine, via Sam Smith of NBA.com.
“Zach was really decisive. He made his shots when they were there. What was encouraging on the threes, there was no hesitation; he just went up and shot it. He got off to a great start, shot unbelievable from three. He can start running He can go 0 -for-4 and then come back and do 6-for-6 so I’m never worried (if he’s missing that he was really decisive, and when he had daylight.) We need him to do that when he has his athleticism and his ability to shoot the ball and put it on the floor, he’s a really tough player to guard in transition.”
The question was never, “Can LaVine score enough?” He has long been elite in isolation and in transition as a finisher.
LaVine, showing he’s healthy and playing well to start the season, can do a few things. One – which Bulls fans should hope – is that it raises his trade value. Second, if he plays well, along with Josh Giddey finding his way as a shot creator and Nikola Vucevic being healthy and sharp, the Bulls can start winning games and look like a play-in team. Which could lead to ownership pumping the brakes (again) on a needed rebuild to chase a postseason spot.
One thing’s for sure: If LaVine plays like this, there will be plenty of highlights.
