Why
should the Bulls trade LaVine?
Lauri
Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr and Coby White’s development has been underdeveloped
due to Zach LaVine’s high usage rate, which is 8th amongst guards. Carter Jr is only getting 8 shots per game,
Coby white is getting uncomfortable riding the bench especially in clutch
moments and the worst aspect of this Bulls hapless season is the decline of
Markkanen’s production. ‘The Finisher’ is looking more like ‘The Mirotic’
without the beard. Last season Markkanen
averaged 18.7 points, 15.3 shot attempts and shot 43% but this season he has
fell off to 14.5 points, 11.7 shot attempts while shooting 39%.
Zach
LaVine knows he’s the alpha male as he dominates this young, losing and bashful
Bulls squad. It’s time for the Bulls
management to admit that the 2017 Jimmy Butler rebuild trade is a failure. Trade LaVine so Markkanen, Carter Jr &/or
Coby White are forced to step up and finally lead the Bulls out of
hopelessness. If not, Chicago will get
more lottery balls in hopes of landing LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, James
Wiseman, Cole Anthony or Deni Avdija.
LaVine
is an All-Star caliber player but he has proven that he cannot bear the burden
of leading a young and unproven squad.
Since Zach LaVine is only 24, top 20 in scoring, top 15 in 3 pointers
made per game and makes a modest $19.5 million per year; the Bulls won’t give
him up without receiving an unprotected 1st round pick. Here are 4 teams that need LaVine and can
humble him into accepting a role as being the 2nd or 3rd
option.
4. Detroit Pistons
Why do the Pistons need LaVine?
The
Pistons haven’t won a playoff series since the days of Chauncey Billups,
Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton back in 2008 (Ben Wallace was with
Chicago). Detroit is currently drowning
in mediocracy despite the return of Blake Griffin from injury, Andre Drummond
putting up career numbers and Derrick Rose playing like a 6th Man of
the Year candidate. The Pistons have a
couple of middle of the road wing starters in Tony Snell and Luke Kennard,
which contributes to Detroit being a lowly 20th in the NBA in
scoring.
In addition to that 1st round
pick, what else would Detroit have to give up for LaVine’s $19.5 million?
The
Pistons would have to trade away 5 players; Langston Galloway $7.3 million,
Luke Kennard $3.8 million, Thon Maker $3.5 million, Sekou Doumbouya $3.2
million and Tim Frazier $1.6 million.
Most of those players wouldn’t last long on the Bulls roster except the
sharp shooter Luke Kennard and rookie Doumbouya but the kicker of course is
Detroit’s unprotected 1st round pick.
Reggie
Jackson has only played in 2 games this season but he’s scheduled to finally
get healthy from a stress reaction in his back in the middle of this
month. A starting line-up that includes
Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, Zach LaVine and Reggie Jackson with D. Rose and
Markieff Morris off the bench would significantly increase their chances of
ending that 11 year playoff series win drought.
3. Miami Heat
Why do the Heat need LaVine?
The
Miami Heat is the biggest pleasant surprise in the Eastern Conference as they
are fighting off Boston and Philly to hold on to that #2 seed. But can Miami sustain this success and win a
playoff series or two with Jimmy Butler as their only player with star
power? Probably not. LaVine and Butler will never be allowed to
forget that they were traded for one another (LaVine came with Kris Dunn and #7
pick Markkanen and Butler came with #17 pick Justin Patton). Now they may need to drop their inflated egos
and join forces to become a scary team to face in the 2020 playoffs.
In addition to that 1st round
pick, what else would Miami have to give up for LaVine’s $19.5 million?
Justise
Winslow $13 million and for salary cap purposes Dion Waiters $12.1
million. The Bulls could take a chance
on Winslow to see if a change of scenery could rejuvenate his career and trade
Dion Waiters whose contract expires during the summer of 2021 to a contender
that can deal with his off the court issues.
A
Heat starting line up with Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, double-double machine Bam
Adebayo and all-rookie 1st team candidate Kendrick Nunn with Tyler
Herro, Goran Dragic and pleasant surprise Duncan Robinson off the bench would
have Heat fans fearing no opponent in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Why do the Mavs need LaVine?
The
Mavericks are in a similar position as the Heat. A vast majority of hoops fans
did not see the Mavericks competing for a top 3 seed in the Western
Conference. However, skeptics doubt if
Dallas can sustain this high level of play with Luka Doncic as their only
star. Kristaps Porzingis has not picked
up where he left off before he tore his ACL during that 2017-18 all-star season
where he averaged 22.7 points and shot 39% from 3 point range. After sitting out last season, The Unicorn’s
numbers have dropped to 16.4 points and 33% from downtown. Zack LaVine can bring that much needed
firepower as Doncic’s ultimate sidekick until Porzingis gets his groove back.
In addition to that 1st round
pick, what else would Dallas have to give up for LaVine’s $19.5 million?
Tim
Hardaway Jr $18.1 million and Isiah Roby $1.5 million. Hardaway Jr has only one year left on his
contract after this season, so Chicago could move him again before the February
6th trade deadline or wait until this summer.
With
the addition of LaVine in Dallas, Porzingis playing more like he did with the
Knicks and Luka maintaining his All-NBA Team level of play will establish the
Mavs as legitimate contenders for the Rockets, Clippers and Lakers to take very
seriously.
- Philadelphia 76ers
Why do the Sixers nee LaVine?
Philadelphia
won’t have to worry about Zach LaVine dominating some bashful teammates due to
the robust personalities of franchise players Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. A LaVine addition to the Sixers would loosen up
the Milwaukee Bucks stranglehold as the #1 contender in the East. The loss of
JJ Redick’s shooting efficiency to New Orleans and Jimmy Butler’s scoring
prowess to Miami has decreased The Sixers effectiveness from outside the paint. The 76ers are currently 16th in the NBA in
scoring (last season they were 5th).
Zach LaVine found out that lifting a young Bulls team to playoff
contention problematic but he has absolutely no problem finding a way to put
that rock in the basket through spot up jumpers, creating his own shot or
highlight finishes in the paint.
In addition to that 2021 first round pick,
(the Sixers won’t have a 2020 first
rounder unless they miss the playoffs) what else would Philly have to give
up for LaVine’s $19.5 million?
Josh
Richardson $10.1 million, Zhaire Smith $3 million, Johan Bolden $1.7 million,
Raul Neto $1.6 million, Shake Milton $1.4 million and Philly would have to also
dip into that $4.4 million of Luxury tax cap space to make the deal happen.
Coach
Brett Brown biggest Christmas wish is for Ben Simmons to shoot at least 1 three
pointer a game but Simmons continues to play the role of Grinch by ignoring his
coach no matter how naughty or nice he has been. The Sixers must establish consistent outside
shooting and scoring from the perimeter and that problem would be solved with a
Zach LaVine acquisition.
