1) Chicago Bulls that benefit from Billy Donovan hiring: Zach LaVine
The other of the two most potent players on the current Bulls roster, outside of Markkanen, is the 6-foot-6 25-year-old former UCLA Bruins shooting guard Zach LaVine. The 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves LaVine had his best season to date in his pro career in 2019-20.
LaVine played in 60 games for the Bulls during the shortened 2019-20 season (all of which he started in). He averaged 25.5 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks. LaVine shot 45.0 percent from the field, 38.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 80.2 percent from the free-throw line.
That amounted to a career-best 2.4 box plus/minus rating. .091 win shares per 48 minutes, 2.4 value over replacement player rating, 4.0 total win shares, 56.8 true shooting percentage, and 106 offensive rating/110 defensive rating.
Two big goals for LaVine next season will be continuing the upward trend he’s showing as a perimeter defender and taking more of the pressure off his shoulders and becoming a better creator for his teammates. LaVine earned the tag as a tough-shot maker (similar to Carmelo Anthony), but that’s not always a good thing.
Donovan helped Paul, SGA, and Schroder take their games to the next level during the 2019-20 season with the Thunder. All signs point to him being able to do the same with the likes of former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White, LaVine, and Sato, in the Bulls backcourt rotation in the near future.