Chicago Bulls: Hot Takes on Upcoming Season Part 2

Take One: One Chicago Bull will make the All Star Team

So like last time, I’m gonna ease into my opinions with a pretty mellow take.

I think that either Zach LaVine or Lauri Markkanen will make an All-Star Team. Before I go into how I think each player will produce statistically, lets look at the field first.

Firstly, I don’t think that either of them will be starters next year. But, there are a few spots on the All Star team that may be open. With D’Angelo Russell and Kawhi Leonard now in the Western Conference, opening up one of 14 spots available (DLO was a replacement so he wasn’t technically on the roster).

Barring any major injuries, I think that there are six players that are locks to return; Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Joel Embiid, Blake Griffin and Bradley Beal. All these players are primary options on their team and will get ample opportunity to show their worth. If it was based on team record, Beal and Griffin may not be locks, but both are their teams first option and will easily score 20-plus points per game as well as positively impact their team in other aspects.

That leaves eight spots remaining on the roster. I do believe that Ben Simmons and Victor Oladipo (depending on when he comes back) will be on the team, so that leaves six spots open. Khris Middleton will most likely make it, but I’m not 100 percent sure, so I left him here.

However, I don’t think that Kyle Lowry and Nikola Vucevic will make it back. Lowry was on the team last year simply because the Raptors were really good. In Vucevic’s case, I think Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac will take the next step, which will be good for the Magic as a team, but not for Vucevic’s individual stats.

Based on my hypothetical scenario, there are five spots that are open. The way the All-Star voting is set up it’s two guards and three forwards in the starting lineup as well as the bench and then two open spots for any position. There are already four or five guard spots already taken (depending on Oladipo’s health) and four forwards taken.

So obviously, based on my take, I believe that either Zach or Lauri will make this roster. In LaVine’s case, there is less opportunity to make the team than Lauri, but I do think that both have a case to make the team.