The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
Dream starting shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine
- Age in 2028: 33
- Comparisons: Modern-day James Harden, Klay Thompson
After earning two All-Star nominations in his last three seasons in Chicago, Zach LaVine has thoroughly established himself as not only one of the best Bulls players of the decade, but of all time. LaVine has scored the 8th-most points of any player in Chicago Bulls history and could leap to as high as third place if he maintains his current pace for the next five seasons.
In today’s NBA, being 33 years old doesn’t even particularly mean your best days are behind you. We saw DeMar DeRozan and Jimmy Butler play some of the best basketball of their lives at 33 just last year. If Zach continues to take care of his body and develop his off-ball gravity, his game will age like fine wine.
The real beauty of this situation is that having LaVine on the roster in 2028 does not necessarily mean he has to play out the remainder of his current contract in Chicago. If the Bulls do decide to switch lanes any time in the next few years, LaVine could easily be shipped off for a few valuable assets. With his contract set to expire after the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, LaVine would be a free agent and could re-sign to a reinvigorated Bulls team.
Much like the modern versions of James Harden and Klay Thompson, Zach’s shooting and on-ball defense would make him an extremely valuable asset even as he begins to lose his athleticism with age. Returning on a cheaper contract would allow the Bulls to make the most of their newfound assets, potentially even taking a big swing for the next player on this list.