When the Chicago Bulls traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, the response was consistent across the board. Most agreed with Chicago opting to move LaVine's massive contract, but expressed concerns over the return.
Less than two months later, the Bulls are rubbing salt in the wound of a trade that they're quietly winning as the Kings continue to search for answers.
Chicago hosted Sacramento on Thursday, Mar. 20 in the first game between LaVine and his former team. The Bulls got the best of their former franchise players, including DeMar DeRozan, pulling away for a 128-116 road victory.
It was a statement win for the Bulls in some respects, as many of the players who were lost in the shuffle of a rotation that featured two ball-dominant perimeter scorers went off.
Coby White led all scorers with 35 points and five assists on 10-of-18 shooting from the field. Nikola Vucevic flirted with a triple-double, adding 24 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists, as Chicago continued a stellar stretch of success.
Compounded by the facts that LaVine struggled, the players acquired for him thrived, and the teams appear to be going in different directions, salt has been effectively applied to the wound.
Bulls defeat Kings, continuing pattern of winning Zach LaVine trade
LaVine posted just eight points in 33 minutes, shooting 2-of-9 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. Across the court was Kevin Huerter, who arrived in Chicago as a part of the deal between the Bulls and the Kings.
Huerter was unstoppable, decimating his former team to the tune of 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and four steals on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and a 5-of-9 mark from beyond the arc.
No one in their right mind will argue that Huerter is a better player than LaVine, but the performance epitomized why the Bulls won this trade. It wasn't about LaVine lacking the talent to excel, but instead a matter of decluttering the rotation, shedding a gigantic salary, and beginning to develop an identity.
With Huerter where LaVine used to be, the Bulls have an off-ball scoring threat who can stretch the floor and create opportunities for White to play in a more featured role.
The results have been remarkable, as Chicago is now 6-2 over its past eight games. During that time, White has been transcendent, averaging 29.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per contest, scoring as many as 44 points in a single game.
Sacramento, meanwhile, is 2-5 over its past seven outings, losing ground in the race for home-court advantage in the Play-In Tournament. One of the primary reasons for the Kings' shortcomings was reflected against the Bulls: They're effectively repeating Chicago's past mistakes.
DeRozan, LaVine, and Malik Monk have effectively taken the place of DeRozan, LaVine, and White. There are only so many ways to get three ball-dominant perimeter players into a rhythm, and one often suffers. Against Chicago, Monk scored 34 points and DeRozan tallied 22, but LaVine posted a mere eight.
It's an experience Bulls fans grew accustomed to living through during the previous era, but have now moved forward from—and the results are beginning to reflect how they won the LaVine trade.