What's Zach LaVine's ceiling?

[Klomp]

One has to wonder how he'd react going against starters more regularly, as well.

In 18 starts this year: 18.9 ppg, 59.5 TS%

Just look at his 3-point shooting splits
Starter: 39-89, 43.8%
Bench: 44-138, 31.9%

[PharmD]

One has to wonder how he'd react going against starters more regularly, as well.

In 18 starts this year: 18.9 ppg, 59.5 TS%

Just look at his 3-point shooting splits
Starter: 39-89, 43.8%
Bench: 44-138, 31.9%

And it's not just a mirage. When he comes off the bench he plays PG so he's always shooting off the dribble.

[atlantabbq99]

Before the the draft i said LaVine = Brent Barry. Now, i'll still stay in the same lane and say he could be a rich man's Brent Barry or better version of Sprewell.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Zach looks like a star when his shot is on. He wont give you anything anywhere else, but he'll drop 50 on you in a hurry when he gets into one of his zones.

[guille_4]

One has to wonder how he'd react going against starters more regularly, as well.

In 18 starts this year: 18.9 ppg, 59.5 TS%

Just look at his 3-point shooting splits
Starter: 39-89, 43.8%
Bench: 44-138, 31.9%

Apart from playing off the ball as a starter, do you think playing with Rubio gets him better shots?

[phonzadellika]

One has to wonder how he'd react going against starters more regularly, as well.

In 18 starts this year: 18.9 ppg, 59.5 TS%

Just look at his 3-point shooting splits
Starter: 39-89, 43.8%
Bench: 44-138, 31.9%

Apart from playing off the ball as a starter, do you think playing with Rubio gets him better shots?

Last night, Rubio got him his first two threes, Zach took off from there.

[Hindenburg]

He is a bit of a ballhog. He always wants to get his when he is out there. I like his progress so far but I feel like he is taking shots away from Wiggins and Towns.

[brutalitops]

Im not too sure, He could be anything

He came into the league a high pick even if he was pretty raw, He showed promise however was probably one of the worst players in the NBA last season

This season hes progressed a lot more, Has a left hand (almost refused to use his left last season) his outside shooting is more consistent, Will look for a pass.

I think he could be the Bill gates Version of Gerald green, has a good pull up mid range, can catch and shoot. Athletic slasher. Not a great defensive player but he absolutly has the length, athletism, and his learning curve suggests he has a lot more improvement.

[tsherkin]

He started the last month or two of last season and is starting again (and playing heavy minutes) now. He's doing pretty well. Good games, bad games, but given his age, I think it's possible and maybe likely that he turns into a very good player. He's still got a lot to work on. Like all the Wolves younger guys, he can fall in love with the long 2 just because it's open and sometimes he takes difficult shots before the clock is really wound down- It's great that he can create a shot quickly, but maybe that 18 footer with a hand in your face when there's time left to find a better shot can wait. He's quick enough to get that whenever he wants.

I mean, he's young. Being an idiot is sort of a given when you're that young. He's freshly 21. Almost everyone I've ever known has had all kinds of issues at that point, and even if you've been doing something for like 7-10 years like playing ball, there's a TOOON to learn, particularly as you get to a new level, get to a new role, handle more minutes, etc.

Stretches like this are encouraging, very encouraging. He has remarkable physical tools and while he isn't a primary playmaker, it's nice to see that he can do a few things with the ball and get it to his teammates and everything. He's definitely a guy I'm watching, and it's quite pleasant that he has Wiggins and KAT and Rubio with whom to work so that he doesn't have to flounder in an excessive-volume role. Also, he's exciting as all damned Hell when he gets out on the break, that's for sure. Such an effortless leaper.

[WolvesGuy14]

He is a bit of a ballhog. He always wants to get his when he is out there. I like his progress so far but I feel like he is taking shots away from Wiggins and Towns.

I'd be worried about Towns maybe, but even still that's the point of having multiple people being able to score.

There's a chance that Lavine ends up better than Wiggins.

[YourBuddy]

One has to wonder how he'd react going against starters more regularly, as well.

In 18 starts this year: 18.9 ppg, 59.5 TS%

Just look at his 3-point shooting splits
Starter: 39-89, 43.8%
Bench: 44-138, 31.9%

Apart from playing off the ball as a starter, do you think playing with Rubio gets him better shots?

They look like a quarter back and wide reliever who have an amazing connection when Rubio throws his outlet passes to Zach sprinting out.

[freewhitemoon]

pretty sure lavine is actually better than wiggins is right now. wiggins just gets a bigger role to justify that draft position. both are bad defenders

I remember reading on Jonathan tjarks' blog around the 2014 draft about how Lavine's college stats were pretty much comparable to wiggins'. It was just that wiggins as the no.1 prospect got his 30-35 mins a night at kansas while Lavine was the 7th man of his ucla squad

[tsherkin]

He is a bit of a ballhog. He always wants to get his when he is out there. I like his progress so far but I feel like he is taking shots away from Wiggins and Towns.

That attitude might be a little concerning, but taking away shots from Wiggins is actually a good thing, given how unremarkable a scorer he is at this point. Better to spread the development and see who takes off first (if at all), rather than force-feed one guy based on draft slot.

[EvanZ]

His ceiling is the second floor.

[510TWSS]

I haven't seen much outside of a few condensed games on LP, but maybe Jamal Crawford-esqe with a developing 3pt shot? I look at Zach and think, this is what a good Austin Rivers would look like.

[Northern hoops]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zIFr1Slusc[/youtube]

[Klomp]

He is a bit of a ballhog. He always wants to get his when he is out there. I like his progress so far but I feel like he is taking shots away from Wiggins and Towns.

That attitude might be a little concerning, but taking away shots from Wiggins is actually a good thing, given how unremarkable a scorer he is at this point. Better to spread the development and see who takes off first (if at all), rather than force-feed one guy based on draft slot.

I agree with this, actually.

Don't agree with Sam's move of running late-game offense through Wiggins. It works sometimes, but I think he's too inconsistent at this point. Last night, he did it again, despite Wiggins looking hobbled most of the second half and LaVine being absolutely on fire from the field. Also, Towns was a bit ignored offensively for most of the game. It took two failed possessions before they ran the offense through Towns.

[tamao]

NBA slam dunk champ !!!

[Klomp]

NBA slam dunk champ !!!

So you think he reached the pinnacle of his career halfway through his rookie season?

[Klomp]

How many of these players would still be taken ahead of LaVine if we held the draft today, knowing what we already know?

Andrew Wiggins
Jabari Parker
Joel Embiid
Aaron Gordon
Dante Exum
Marcus Smart
Julius Randle
Nik Stauskas
Noah Vonleh
Elfrid Payton
Doug McDermott
Dario Saric