Zach LaVine isn’t surprised by the success he’s having this season, and neither is his former coach in Minnesota, writes Kurt Youngblood of The Star Tribune. A key piece of the deal that brought Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves in the summer of 2017, LaVine is having a breakthrough season after getting a $78MM payday in July when the Bulls matched a four-year offer sheet from the Kings. He has responded by averaging 25.5 points per game, ninth best in the league.
“You work hard, you expect good things,” LaVine said.
LaVine appeared headed for stardom with the Wolves before being sidelined with a torn ACL in February of 2017. Minnesota opted to part with him to bring in Butler, but coach Tom Thibodeau still keeps an eye on LaVine’s progress.
“I think last year you saw glimpses of what he could do,” Thibodeau said. “I think now that he’s healthy, he’s gone to a different level. He loves the game. Those types of guys always get better.’’
There’s more this morning out of Chicago:
- Three key players are making progress in returning from injuries, relays Dan Santaromita of NBC Sports Chicago. Lauri Markkanen is ready for “controlled contact” at practice as he rehabs a right elbow injury. Although there’s no timetable for him to return, Bulls coaches were encouraged by the way he shot at Friday’s practice. Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis, who are both sidelined with sprained MCLs, were both able to work out Friday. “That’s the most that Kris Dunn and Bobby have done really since the injury, so really just continue to ramp up their activities,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Those guys are not ready for any type of contact yet.”
- Even though the Bulls appear headed for the lottery again after a 5-15 start, Hoiberg continues to stress the importance of trying to win every game, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Hoiberg remains optimistic that getting back to full strength will spark a surge similar to what the team did last December when Nikola Mirotic returned. “If you do go out there and get a couple wins … they lift everyone’s spirits because our guys are going out there and working hard in practices, and to be able to get over the hump is big for these guys and their development,’’ Hoiberg said. “For young players to see that when they continue to work, good things can happen.”
- In a column, Cowley takes the opposite approach, noting that the organization needs to commit to tanking to have a shot at drafting a star such as Duke freshman Zion Williamson.
Yes, I think the worse place to be is in the middle. Once Dunn, Markannen and Portis return, they will be a 35 win team, maybe low 40s if they get really hot. Bulls fans have seen their team make the playoffs A LOT more than they haven’t over the last 3 decades. It would mean more to actually be competing for a ring, so they might as well tank this year, draft a stud in the top 3 and reset (HOPEFULLY HEALTHY) for next year. The real fans will understand.
Besides the city has the Cubs who are contenders every year and are still in their window and the Bears window appears to be just starting to open.
Yeah winning games for the Bulls is only harmful for the Franchise, but the players and coaches literally could care less about draft pick status and only want to to win. So it’s a tricky line with tanking because the guys on the court want to win, but everyone else knows that losing for a team like the Bulls is the best thing.
And once the Bulls get everyone back, they’ll actually be a solid team and won’t have a chance for a top 3 pick anyway. That kind of stinks for them, but their young guys progressing is important too.
True