Over the course of human history, we have seen great inventions that have dramatically accelerated civilization. The wheel, to name just one example, is certainly in the top five. And whoever came up with the crazy idea of mashing two cookies together, with vanilla ice cream as the filling… we all applaud you.
As it stands now, we may be on the cusp of a similar evolutionary leap as the ice cream sandwich, and it’s coming to us via the Denver Nuggets, who are reportedly interested in acquiring Bulls guard Zach LaVine.
The high-scoring shooting guard has become underrated to a level bordering on ridiculous for a variety of reasons.
Yes, his contract is indeed huge. LaVine is making $43 million this year and has two years left at roughly $46 million and $48.9 million, although that is a player option last year.
LaVine’s financial component is a major hurdle, and in recent years the league reportedly deemed the contract untradeable due to its size.
That always seemed like a bridge too far, and it reeked of teams or individuals who blamed Chicago’s lack of results solely on LaVine, instead of looking at management and ownership, who never seemed to understand what they were actually doing with a player like him had to do.
LaVine is not a first option. He’s been thrust into that role before and he’s had decent individual results, but he was never meant to be the lead role. There was a pretty important reason for that.
Over the course of his career, and especially since he reached his peak during his years in Chicago, LaVine became a downright bad off-ball scorer.
In 2020-21, LaVine ranked seventh in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage (48.9%) among players with 50+ games played while being (by far) Chicago’s top offensive weapon.
That same season, he finished in the 97th percentile in running back efficiency, again as the Bulls’ top offensive player, with defenses gearing up to stop him.
Since then, LaVine has remained a high-yield player on off-ball plays. He only dipped below 40% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers during his injury-riddled season last year, when he was limited to 25 games.
What’s intriguing about that level of efficiency is that LaVine has never played with a player who is an elite playmaker and also serves as a first option.
In short, he never had his Batman.
In Denver he would finally get his… well, Joker. But Nikola Jokić is also Batman in this scenario.
Okay, forget the superhero analogy. LaVine has never played next to a superstar, and he certainly has never played next to a superstar of Jokić’s caliber as someone who could go down in history as one of the ten greatest players of all time.
In Denver, LaVine would essentially run in the most effortless 20-25 points per game he could ever imagine due to his aforementioned skills running the ball.
The 29-year-old would also flex the defense in a way that would open up the floor more for both Jokić and Jamal Murray, which should reinvigorate Denver’s offense.
With Jokić regularly drawing double teams, LaVine could benefit immediately as the ball moves and pops like he’s never seen in Chicago, with all due respect to DeMar DeRozan.
LaVine would also inject some much-needed three-point creation into Denver’s offense. Although Michael Porter Jr. would likely go to Chicago in such a deal, the forward is unable to make three-point shots off the dribble to the extent of LaVine because he simply lacks the ball control, speed and touch to hit. shots from a different angle as he turns his body in the air.
This isn’t to say that some challenges wouldn’t develop in Denver, as LaVine isn’t a standout defender. Offensively, however, the fit just makes sense.
In the NBA, obvious trades often don’t get executed. Teams will pivot in a direction that catches most observers off guard, and we have to imagine what a particular player on a particular team might look like.
Here is the possibility of an otherworldly level.
It’s clear. It’s fresh. It’s the right thing to try. So, based on past experience…don’t get your hopes up.
