The Chicago Bulls have won four out of their last five games.
That stretch is more important than their prior 10-7 streak for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which is Zach LaVine’s reintroduction into the offense. They hit their stride without him for several weeks.
“If LaVine is relegated to merely being a ‘3-and-D’ player, his frustration could grow,” K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago said on January 14.
LaVine has averaged 16.8 points on 11.4 attempts per game since his comeback.
That’s a long cry from the 21.0 points on 16.6 attempts a game he was averaging in his 18 appearances prior to his foot injury, which kept him out for 17 games.
The Bulls’ net rating went from minus-7.1 with LaVine to plus-1.2 during his injury absence, per NBA.com.
Gimme the hot sauce, Zach LaVine!@NBCSChicago | @ZachLaVine pic.twitter.com/OcgjQ0m326
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 13, 2024
The good news is that they have a plus-1.0 net rating since his return to court. However, after returning to the starting lineup, his number has dipped to plus-0.6.
Billy Donovan Using Zach LaVine Differently in Bulls’ Offense
“[Head Coach Billy] Donovan has pointed to the need for LaVine to get more offense in transition, which would entail him sprinting the floor,” Johnson wrote. “The coach has pushed back on questioning that LaVine is being placed more in catch-and-shoot than pick-and-roll situations, where LaVIne’s inconsistent decision-making can come into play.”
LaVine’s pick-and-roll frequency has dropped from 35.5% last season to 32.8% this season.
His transition opportunities have increased from 19.8% to 21.6%. But LaVine’s catch-and-shoot efficiency has failed him. The two-time All-Star shot 32.7% on catch-and-shoot threes this season, down from 41.6% the previous year.
This also contributes to a bigger narrative of a rift between LaVine and Donovan about the star’s role, which stretches back at least to last season.
The two also disagreed about Donovan withdrawing LaVine after a terrible play last season, which lingered in the guard’s mind long after the event.
“LaVine has pointed to the Bulls winning whenever asked about his individual play since his return,” Johnson said in a statement. “But his future will be the main storyline to the start of the Bulls’ second half of their season.”
The Bulls signed LaVine to a five-year, $215 million contract before the 2022-23 season.
He has been embroiled in trade rumors ever since. And, while he and the Bulls continue to look for a new home for him, nothing has came of it for a variety of reasons.
Zach LaVine’s Trade Market ‘Rough’
Playing LaVine in this manner could benefit the Bulls’ overall vision. They still want to deal LaVine before the deadline, which Johnson admits has proven difficult.
In addition to a high asking price, LaVine has a large contract and injury worries.
“The trade market for him around the league, sources say, is so rough that the thought is Chicago should have to add stuff in a LaVine trade to get off the contract,” LA Times reporter Dan Wokie wrote on January 13.
Johnson recently proposed a similarly catastrophic scenario in which Alex Caruso may become a victim of the Bulls’ desire to transfer LaVine.
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