Zach LaVine, the Bulls’ key acquisition in the offseason deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, is nearing his season debut after a pair of practices with Chicago’s G League affiliate, per NBA.com. LaVine has been rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered with the Timberwolves last season.
LaVine, 22, was averaging a career-high 18.9 PPG last season before his year was cut short due to injury. Despite their poor 13-24 record, the Bulls have looked better recently, behind the return of Nikola Mirotic and strong play from Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. If LaVine can return to last year’s form — or anything close to it — Chicago will be incorporating an explosive guard who can score and dunk with the best of them. LaVine is a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner.
However, LaVine’s impending return could alter the Bulls’ lineup and playing time for players such as Dunn.
Check out other news out of the Bulls organization below:
- Speaking of Dunn, he has emerged as a closer for the Bulls, a trusted player who the team wants to have the ball in his hands late in games, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. However, with LaVine’s return on the horizon, head coach Fred Hoiberg realizes the team could be adding the team’s best scoring weapon. “Yeah, he is another guy that can give you that,’’ Hoiberg said. “[LaVine] obviously gives you another really good shot-maker. Probably the best shot-maker on the team.’’
- Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago gives a similar take on the LaVine situation. After Dunn failed to make a potential game-winning shot against the Trail Blazers, it served as a reminder that the Bulls are playing without arguably their best shooter in LaVine.
- After that loss to the Trail Blazers, the once-surging Bulls may need to accept their reality for this season, ESPN.com’s Nick Friedell writes. If the Bulls choose not to break up the roster, the team could reach 30 wins — especially with LaVine due back soon — but the front office’s goal was and is to secure the strongest draft position possible.
Bulls need to start Nicola and start winning games the reason why they Nicola because they don’t want to win games it’s all about the draft.
Completely disagree. Markannen is already better than Niko and one of their building bocks for the future. You can’t put Mirotic at C or SF, so there is no room in the starting lineup. Niko looks great when hes hitting threes but when he’s not, he settles for terrible shots because he has no post or drive game. It only makes sense to tank after the horrible start to the year. They get a stud in this draft then they will be ready to compete next year or the year after depending and what free agents they can get. Trade Niko while his value is high. Maybe package him and rolo and get a first rounder and a decent young player.
Agreed. Niko is a one trick pony, and he’s been consistently inconsistent throughout his entire NBA career. Right now, he’s just in the “good” phase. Believe me, it’ll burn out.
I also don’t like the locker room antics. He’s been know for that kinda stuff throughout his NBA career.
I guess that trade worked out well, after all. Dunn and Markkanen are studs, and I have a strong suspicion that Lavine will return to old form and be a baller. If that happens, that trade will go down as a major win for the Bulls. They basically completely rebuilt their team in less than a year.
I think this is one of those rare ‘win-win’ trades for both teams. Butler is playing all-star basketball. Down the road, sure, the Bulls may end up with the edge because of the amount of quality players they received and Dunn is beginning to look like the stud Minnesota was hoping for when they drafted him. Tie for now, but as time will tell, it could very well be the Bulls getting the better of the deal.