Now that preseason is over, it’s become clear that Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine is at the top of the roster’s pecking order.
The Chicago Bulls capped their preseason run of five games off last week with a home win over the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 17.
Here’s a look at why this makes sense for the sixth-year star acquired as part of the Jimmy Butler trade.
It’s been discussed by many that the Bulls’ future depends on the development of its young core. Among those emerging from the pack to this point is LaVine.
You read that, right? I said the Bulls’ pecking order begins at the top with LaVine.
Like many fans, I’ve long wondered, who’s team is it anyway–Lauri Markkanen or LaVine’s? I think the answer is loud and clear with the conclusion of preseason.
LaVine is coming off a strong performance during the 2018-2019 season. If not for the Bulls’ record, he could have been named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
I think some fans unfairly slight LaVine for his challenges at the defensive end. The truth is he’s long been a good on-ball defender, but he’s struggled off-ball as his attention seemingly gets lulled by the opposing team’s movement.
Through preseason to this point, LaVine has proved the doubters wrong. He’s becoming the two-way player that he’s always seemingly been capable of. LaVine is getting after loose balls, disrupting the opponents’ ability to run plays through completion and creating opportunities for steals, which lead to fast break opportunities.
What’s interesting is LaVine appears to have more bounce in his step than he had prior to the knee surgery that he had a few years ago. The athleticism he displays is nearly unparalleled by those around the league, equipping him with nearly infinite ways to get buckets, whether it’s at the rim, beyond the arc or midrange. LaVine is a problem for opposing teams. Period.
It’s been long debated that the Bulls could be Markkanen’s team. However, I beg to differ.
Some have a tendency to draw comparisons, which I think are not yet warranted, between Markkanen and future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. For all the similarities that may exist between the two, there is a nearly equal amount of differences.
Nowitzki didn’t live and die by the long ball during his time in the league, which is something Markkanen has a tendency to settle for. If you recall, Nowitzki had a bit of a midrange/post-up game that many around the league envied.
Why, you ask?
The variety of ways Nowitzki would attack opponents in the interior made him equally as regarded as a three-point shooting threat.
As for Markkanen, he is known more widely to this point during his career as a threat from beyond the arc thanks, in part, to great form and the speed of his shot release. He’s also shown, albeit in flashes, the ability to handle the ball to get to rim.
Markkanen has yet to establish a true post-up game that would make him a threat to big men in the paint. He is often seen floating around the perimeter thereby missing opportunities to take advantage of mismatches when they arise.
In my opinion, a stronger comparison can be struck at least for now between Markkanen and Meyers Leonard of the Miami Heat. Neither has a post-up game to rave about. Both can stretch the floor with outside shooting. If Markkanen continues in this trajectory, he’s bound to be more of a rotational player than an All-Star during his career. This holds true of Leonard.
However, with further development, I have to be optimistic that Markkanen could become the next Nowitzki, which is an interesting idea to ponder. For now, it’s a question of toughness. Does Markkanen have what it takes to be a threat in the post? If so, the Bulls will have a two-headed monster headlined by both LaVine and Markkanen for many years to come.