I said pre-season that this team wasn’t rebuilding, and the fact they were keeping LaVine and Vucevic, and that they didn’t extract maximum value in letting 2 of their best players go, made me think that everyone saying the Bulls were taking a youth movement was wishcasting. The Bulls never said they were rebuilding.
My hot taek was that they’d finish 10th in the East - again - and lose their draft pick. LaVine and Vucevic were going to cost them. They aren’t great players - which many people seemed to think I meant - but the difference between LaVine and Dalen Terry and Vucevic and Adema Sanogo is definitely worth 4-6 wins. It’s just the difference between being a capable NBA starter and a fringe hanger-on.
I feel I’m being vindicated so far in that regard. But I wouldn’t say this proves I’m right.
That said, I’m still amazed (and maybe I shouldn’t be), how easily Bulls bloggers declare something after such a small sample size. BleacherNation claimed LaVine was a great trade player now after the first game of the season. They also claimed Coby White proved last year wasn’t a fluke after the second game of the season.
The lack of nuance also still amazes me. “Not worth the paper his contract was printed on” is ridiculous (I do note you said the vague “some” or whatever and not saying you believed it). LaVine wasn’t good last year, but that doesn’t mean he was bad!!! He was fine. If his contract was the same as Vucevic’s, it would still have been an overpay, but still tradeable under favorable circumstances.
He’s been fine to good this year. I think most advanced stats would show that he’s been a net neutral to positive. That’s good for à bad team. For $45 million and matching salary for outgoing players??? Color me roundly unconvinced, even if he produces at the same level.
Who’s going to match salary and give LaVine a starting spot and want to commit to that contract for a +1.0 player?
What a pass! Would love an article on some possible trade machine ideas for Lavine. Despite him looking like his old self, I'm still happy to call his Uber to O'Hare :)
I haven’t been able to watch Bulls games yet this season, but the lack of relocation 3s and cuts have long been my pet peeves with LaVine. Good call out that I haven’t seen elsewhere.
I said pre-season that this team wasn’t rebuilding, and the fact they were keeping LaVine and Vucevic, and that they didn’t extract maximum value in letting 2 of their best players go, made me think that everyone saying the Bulls were taking a youth movement was wishcasting. The Bulls never said they were rebuilding.
My hot taek was that they’d finish 10th in the East - again - and lose their draft pick. LaVine and Vucevic were going to cost them. They aren’t great players - which many people seemed to think I meant - but the difference between LaVine and Dalen Terry and Vucevic and Adema Sanogo is definitely worth 4-6 wins. It’s just the difference between being a capable NBA starter and a fringe hanger-on.
I feel I’m being vindicated so far in that regard. But I wouldn’t say this proves I’m right.
That said, I’m still amazed (and maybe I shouldn’t be), how easily Bulls bloggers declare something after such a small sample size. BleacherNation claimed LaVine was a great trade player now after the first game of the season. They also claimed Coby White proved last year wasn’t a fluke after the second game of the season.
The lack of nuance also still amazes me. “Not worth the paper his contract was printed on” is ridiculous (I do note you said the vague “some” or whatever and not saying you believed it). LaVine wasn’t good last year, but that doesn’t mean he was bad!!! He was fine. If his contract was the same as Vucevic’s, it would still have been an overpay, but still tradeable under favorable circumstances.
He’s been fine to good this year. I think most advanced stats would show that he’s been a net neutral to positive. That’s good for à bad team. For $45 million and matching salary for outgoing players??? Color me roundly unconvinced, even if he produces at the same level.
Who’s going to match salary and give LaVine a starting spot and want to commit to that contract for a +1.0 player?
Josh Giddey, king of the bounce pass.
Great redemption for Zach. He's handled the politics with grace. Always the professional.
SLOB Wizard!
What a pass! Would love an article on some possible trade machine ideas for Lavine. Despite him looking like his old self, I'm still happy to call his Uber to O'Hare :)
Keep up the great work, Steph!
I haven’t been able to watch Bulls games yet this season, but the lack of relocation 3s and cuts have long been my pet peeves with LaVine. Good call out that I haven’t seen elsewhere.