Chicago Bulls: Projecting the preseason starting five

Chicago Bulls shooting guard

It will be nice to see the Bulls standout 25-year-old 6-foot-6 and 200 pound shooting guard Zach LaVine back in action for the first time in a while in the preseason opener against the Rockets. There likely won’t be all that much playing time that LaVine gets during the preseason, but shaking off the rust will be critical before a fast start to the regular season.

Moreover, shooting guard might be the most secure position in the entire starting five for the Bulls at the outset of this season. LaVine is far and away the best option for the Bulls at shooting guard, as he was last season. His backup is likely going to be either the former Brooklyn Nets 34-year-old shooting guard Garrett Temple or the recently re-signed Denzel Valentine.

Either way, the Bulls are going to need likely another career year from LaVine if they want to contend for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. LaVine surely gave them his best efforts last season, even though he got snubbed for his first career All-Star nod.

During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, LaVine played in 60 games for the Bulls (all of which he started in). And 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.

Just a slight uptick in LaVine’s game and he could finally get that elusive first career All-Star nod this season. That is if some form of All-Star Weekend even transpires next year.