5. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
2017-18 stats: 16.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg, 38% fg, 34% 3 pt, 81% ft
2018-19 stats: 23.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.4 bpg, 47% fg, 36% 3 pt, 86% ft
When Jimmy Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Zach LaVine (as well as Kriss Dunn and Lauri Markanen), it seemed clear that the Bulls lost the trade, especially since LaVine was coming off a torn ACL at the time.
And that showed in his first year with Chicago as Zach struggled mightily and just didn’t look like the same guy he was in Minnesota.
That has all changed this year. Lavine has turned into a go-to star for the young Bulls and has managed to retain almost all of his inhuman athleticism. The Bulls may not be winning many games at the moment, but they have a bright future if Lavine stays healthy.