Courtesy of adamtaylornba of BullsWire
Zach LaVine has found his name in trade rumors in recent weeks. The veteran guard is arguably the Chicago Bulls‘ most tradeable asset and could be the franchise’s first move if they decide to enter a rebuild or pursue a new star player. LaVine, 28, has been a core part of Chicago’s rotation for six years, but now, the two-time All-Star could find himself suiting up for a new team before the end of the upcoming season.
Chicago’s reasoning makes sense. LaVine is a legitimate three-level scorer with secondary playmaking skills. There will be a long list of interested teams should LaVine become available via trade. According to CBS Sports, LaVine is the 43rd-best player in the NBA, sliding from 26th last season. As a top-50 player in the league, contending teams would likely view LaVine as a secondary star that could give them the edge in pursuing a championship.
Here’s what CBS Sports had to say about LaVine.
“Though the Bulls took a step back as a team last year, LaVine’s production didn’t fall off. He’s still severely underrated as one of only nine players last season to average at least 24 points per game while shooting at least 48% from the field and 37% from 3-point range. He’s one of the smoothest shooters in the NBA, capable of making you pay from deep, or driving right past you for an easy finish at the basket. And his mid-range game is just as dangerous. You could argue that he’s a little low on this list, but perhaps that’s a product of a lack of team success more than anything. However, when you put LaVine’s individual offensive numbers up against some of the best guards in the league, he should be in that conversation.”
LaVine missed out on making a third consecutive All-Star appearance last season and will likely want to claw his way back into that conversation in the coming months.
Chicago will be hoping for a big year from LaVine to raise his trade value and give them a chance of success. While the veteran guard will likely want to find himself listed in the NBA’s top 30 this time next year.
