Who Nikola Vucevic will help No. 1: Zach LaVine
A new All-Star dynamic duo exists in the Eastern Conference now with the Bulls having both star shooting guard Zach LaVine and Vucevic playing in the same lineup from this point on. Karnisovas and the Bulls definitely went all in on the star duo of LaVine and Vucevic by sending out two first round picks and a valuable duo of players in WCJ and OPJ at the deadline.
It also feels like the Bulls new front office regime really wants to attract LaVine back to Chicago once his current contract runs up in the offseason next year. There’s now a real possibility that the Bulls have one of the better star duos in the East for at least the next two or three years. And depending on if Williams can reach his lofty potential, this could turn into a real promising trio with the Bulls moving forward.
LaVine got his first career All-Star nod this year as he’s having another season where he’s posting career-best counting stats and advanced metrics. So far this season, LaVine has averaged 28.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks. And he’s shot an insane 52.0 percent from the field, 43.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 86.9 percent from the free-throw line.
The former UCLA Bruin LaVine has also registered a career-best 4.2 box plus/minus rating, .154 win shares per 48 minutes, and a 22.2 player efficiency rating. LaVine has also made it known of late that he would like to be in Chicago over the long haul.
The potential that this pick-and-pop and screen-and-roll offense could have for Donovan and the Bulls with the addition of Vucevic to play along with LaVine could be very special. LaVine will have fewer double teams coming his way and will have more open lanes to use his insane athleticism and bounce in his game to drive to the rim. The production and overall efficiency of LaVine should only continue to heighten down the stretch as he now gets to play with Vucevic.