Chicago Bulls: Predicting Zach LaVine’s role on Team USA

Chicago Bulls all-star guard Zach LaVine will be one of the 12 players representing Team USA Basketball at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He joins a star-studded group led by future Hall of Fame head coach Gregg Popovich.

It’s an exciting moment for a number of players on the team as they are representing Team USA for the first time in their careers. That list includes LaVine, who took (another) massive step this past season for the Bulls.

He finished seventh in the NBA in points per game during the 2020-21 season. Only two of his Team USA teammates finished higher, Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard. With that being said, Team USA is always loaded with talent.

So, what kind of role with the coaching staff carve-out for the Bulls guard? It’s difficult to decide, but we’re going to do our best to predict the rotation.

Chicago Bulls Zach LaVine: Where Does he Fit in the Team USA Rotation?

Let’s first lock up the two starting spots that aren’t debatable. Damian Lillard is going to be the starting point guard and Kevin Durant is going to be a starter at one of the forward spots. Now it is about filling in around those two.

Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat can be added as the starting center. The team lacks depth at the five spot and Adebayo should be penciled in relatively early for this group. The other options are Kevin Love or Draymond Green.

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With those three assumed to have spots in the starting five, two spots remain. Personally, Jayson Tatum makes a lot of sense to me as a forward alongside Durant in the starting unit.

One spot remains with three names standing out for consideration. Those names are LaVine, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. No option is the wrong option considering the talent being considered.

Fit may be what is best used to determine the starting shooting guard spot. Beal or Booker make sense as more natural fits to play off-ball alongside so many dominant players in the starting unit. That way LaVine could be featured more with the ball in his hands offensively, as well.

Given the deep run Booker is making with the Phoenix Suns, I give the edge to Beal to be ready for and accepting of more minutes. So, Beal is the predicted fifth starter.

LaVine’s role becomes the sixth man of the team, providing a scoring punch off the bench and being heavily featured when in the game. Obviously, his versatility allows for him to play next to a number of the different groups within the starting unit.

It’s that flexibility that makes them so dangerous. I predict LaVine to be coming off the bench and often playing next to guys like Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Both can do so much but aren’t where LaVine is in terms of being a pure scorer.

While Bulls management looks to answer the biggest questions this offseason, LaVine will be playing a major role on Team USA.