Chicago Bulls: Keeping Zach LaVine a wise move for the team

There’s not much better production and efficiency that the Chicago Bulls are getting out of one player right now than they are from the star shooting guard Zach LaVine. The 6-foot-6 former UCLA Bruin is having a really solid start to this season, and the Bulls have found more success in the win column as a result.

It’s hard to imagine that first-year head coach Billy Donovan and this Bulls team would even have seven wins to their name through 17 this regular season without the efforts of LaVine. He’s been great, and elevated the play of a lot of the supporting cast around him.

And while there are still flaws to LaVine’s game that he needs to work through (namely frequent turnovers), it’s hard to complain about the production level he’s brought to the table thus far. His game continues to improve on both ends of the floor, and his ascent to true stardom looks to nearly be complete.

Through 17 games played so far this season for the Bulls (all of which he’s started in), LaVine is averaging around 36 minutes on the floor per game. And he’s averaged an impressive 27.0 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 4.3 turnovers. LaVine shot 50.2 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.6 percent from the free-throw line.

That all has amounted to a career-best 2.7 box plus/minus rating, 0.7 value over replacement player rating, .134 win shares per 48 minutes, 1.7 total win shares, 64.2 true shooting percentage, 114 offensive rating/113 defensive rating, and a 21.1 player efficiency rating. The per game stats, shooting percentages, and advanced stats all indicate an All-Star caliber start to the regular season for LaVine.

LaVine and the Chicago Bulls on the trade market

These indicators all bode well for the direction that LaVine’s game is heading. It also indicates the potential trade value that the Bulls could get from him on the open market right now. Granted, it doesn’t look like the Bulls are planning on trading LaVine anytime soon.

His rise to stardom, combined with his team friendly contract which has two years left on it (with just about $18 million due per season), has led to a rise in trade discussions around various fan circles. But a piece from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago earlier in the week made it known that there’s not a world where the Bulls are very willing to give up LaVine at the moment.

Moreover, the school of thought for Bulls fans in the last few years remained how the front office would be able to get a true star to Chicago. But first-year executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager Marc Eversley could have a star on their hands already with LaVine in the mix.

It’s true too that the Bulls could have a first-time NBA All-Star selection on their hands this season with LaVine. With the NBA All-Star voting for the 2020-21 season opening up on Jan. 28, Bulls fans could finally make their voice known in potentially pushing LaVine to get his first career All-Star nod.

The Bulls currently hold a record of 7-10, after their last game ended in a sizable 16-point loss at the hands of the star duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and the Boston Celtics at home on the night of Jan. 25. Next up for LaVine and the Bulls is a meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 30 at home at the United Center.