The Chicago Bulls are heading into a 2024-25 NBA season with more questions than answers. This includes the future of star shooting guard Zach LaVine, but the team will hope to maximize him and have a winning record. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is already impressed with how LaVine has started the 2024-25 preseason, as he said to the media after a 121-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
“Zach [LaVine] was really decisive. He took his shots when they were there. What was encouraging on the threes, there was no hesitation. He just went up and shot it. He got off to a great start, shot unbelievable from three. He can get on a run. He can go 0-for-4 and then come back and make 6-for-6, so I never worry (if he’s missing).
"I thought he was really decisive, and when he had daylight and a crack he shot it. We need him to do that. When he’s got a head of steam, his athletic ability and his ability to shoot the ball and put it on the floor, he’s really hard to guard. He is one of the better open floor players in transition.”
LaVine put up 28 points in just 22 minutes against the Grizzlies in their 3-point loss, shooting 9-12 from the field and going a perfect 6-6 from three.
Keeping LaVine on the Bulls despite the trade rumors and putting him in a position to succeed might be best for the franchise. The overall weakness of the Bulls roster will be limiting how many games the franchise wins this season, but GM Artūras Karnišovas made it clear that they want to be a competitive franchise this season.
“We’re going to try to win every game because going back to development – what goes into winning? And that’s the only way you can teach those guys how to win games, is going through that. With a lot of things to be determined, I think training camp will show a lot of things.”
The Bulls have played two preseason games so far, losing one to the Grizzlies yesterday but winning their preseason opener last Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers (116-112).
Zach LaVine Struggled Last Season Due To Injury
Zach LaVine has had an injury-prone reputation that he seemed to have overcome with a stellar 2022-23 season, despite the Bulls still being an average Play-In team. Last season was a rough one for LaVine, as he averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 25 games, sitting out the season after February due to foot injuries.
LaVine opened up on what happened last season and how the new ball movement on the Bulls this season leans into his post-injury style of play.
“Injuries suck and they happen. Last year, I played 20-some games with a broken foot,” said Lavine. “But I feel good now and we're trying to get me in more and more (catch-and-shoots). I'm more than fine with getting easy shots off the ball. I like those stress-free shots.”
LaVine was also one of the biggest names on the trade market last season, with his injuries causing market interest to dry up despite links with the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.
He has three years and over $120 million left on his contract, so teams have been hesitant to commit assets to acquire a scorer like LaVine if his contract winds up being an anchor to the franchise.
He will be on trade watch for most of this season, but if he's leading the Bulls to a winning season, the franchise might become reluctant to trade him once again as they were for the years prior to last season.
