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Chicago Bulls: Time to ease Zach LaVine’s burden

By Kyle Williams

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 05: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates his three point shot in the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November5, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 05: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates his three point shot in the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November5, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 15: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 15: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What the future holds

Now, the addition of Otto Porter Jr. has given the Bulls another key player for LaVine to get some chemistry with, but LaVine needs to sit out and let all of his nagging injuries heal, or the Bulls need to take some responsibility off of him.

In an injury-filled season, LaVine has been the only constant. In November when the Bulls were dealing with injuries to Dunn and Markkanen, LaVine took on a heavy burden. LaVine played the 2nd-most minutes in the NBA and was 5th-most in Usage rate in November before succumbing to an ankle sprain of the deltoid ligament – that kept him out most of December – that held him out 2-4 weeks.

Only one player for the Chicago Bulls has played more games than LaVine, and that’s Ryan Arcidiacono at 69 games. LaVine is the 8th-highest in the NBA in Usage percentage, and 19th in minutes per game. With LaVine two years removed from an ACL tear, it would be wise to monitor how much the bulls are using him.

As the lone creator on this team, LaVine is going to be needed moving forward. A guy like LaVine who can create his shot and make difficult shots is a valuable commodity in today’s NBA. LaVine might not want to sit out any more games, but It’s up the to the Bulls coaches to save him from his self.

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This season proved that he still has all of the explosiveness that he had before the injury. How good LaVine is is up for debate, but his health and development are an essential part of the Bulls moving ahead in the rebuilding process.

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