Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine is destined to be a superstar

The Chicago Bulls may have lost Jimmy Butler, but Zach LaVine is destined to be a superstar in the NBA

Chicago Bulls fans, meet your new favorite player. Most of you know him pretty well, but probably don’t consider him a future franchise player. If you view Zach LaVine as a promising young scorer but not a future star, you’re wrong. You’re dead wrong.

I may be coming off as an arrogant/delusional idiot, but LaVine is simply that good. I don’t consider myself an NBA guru. There are many players that i will hype up in the future who will be busts, but LaVine isn’t one of them.

LaVine has been one of the most underatted players in the league for the last two years. He has posted some impressive numbers last year. He averaged 19 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field, and 39 percent from three-point range. But those numbers don’t tell the full story.

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Zach LaVine was the Wolves third scoring option and rarely had the ball in his hands. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins took 19 and 18 shots per a game, LaVine only took 15. LaVine also didn’t handle the ball much because of Ricky Rubio.

Rubio may be a pass-first point guard, but he constantly had the ball in order to create for others.

If LaVine had played for the Nets last year, he would have been the focal point of their offense. He probably would have averaged around 23-26 points a game, and this dude is only 22 years old.

He has a lightning quick first step, elite athleticism, incredible shooting, ridiculous explosiveness, solid decision making, and he’s a good passer as well. He may have only averaged three assists per a game, but that ranked second on the Timberwolves (since their offense ran through rubio and isolation plays).

The biggest weakness in LaVine’s offensive game is settling for jumpers. He can beat defenders off the dribble with ease and he needs to get to the free throw line more. Once he gets more aggressive, he will force a lot of double teams and his assist averages will sky rocket.

Zach LaVine is slated to step into the starting line up as a scoring point guard. The Chicago Bulls were smart to waive Rondo. Rajon still has a lot left in the tank, but the Bulls need to rebuild around a young stud who’s hungry. Lets face it, today’s NBA is dominated by scoring point guards.

I grew up in the era of floor generals/pass first point guards, but quiete frankly, the Bulls need their best player to have the ball in their hands, and Lavine is their best player.

LaVine’s rise to Superstardom is inevitable. Dwyane Wade is in the last year of his contract, once he’s gone expect Zach to take his game to another level. I expect him to lead the Bulls in scoring this year, and to probably be an all star.

Lavine has steadily improved every year in his short career and he is now on a team that desperately needs some offense. I’d project his stats next year at around 23-25 points, 4.5 boards, five assists. And after a couple of years, those numbers could jump up significantly. Don’t be surprised if he averages a line of 27/6/7 in a couple of years.

If I still don’t sound like an idiot to some of you right now, allow me to change that right now. In my opinion, LaVine has more upside than Jimmy Butler. You heard me. Obviously, Butler is a better player right now (and a better fit with the Timberwolves).

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Butler is an elite two way NBA stud. But Lavine has the potential to develop into a top 10 NBA player, heck, maybe even top 5. Jimmy is five and a half years older than Zach. When Butler was 22 he only averaged 8.6 points per a game. Zach averaged 19.

Obviously, Zach LaVine needs to step up on defense to fulfil his potential. But he has all the tools to develop into a solid defender. He has elite athleticism, quickness, and length, he just needs to put in more effort. Offensively, he is a unique talent. I don’t think we’ve ever seen a sharp-shooter with this type of athleticism.