Does Lavine resign, or who will poach him?

[CobraCommander]

The Bulls would be fools to not pay him, he's got flaws but most players do. He's on Devin Booker's level. Who do you replace him with? Someone suggested Jalen Brunson and Bertans? That's a trash return.

Lavine is indeed a max player, he's playing injured right now but he's capable of averaging 30ppg on high efficiency, the Bulls need to create a better team around him and DDR, they have no shooters, no bigs, no 3D types. Bulls are the worst 3point team in the league in terms of attempts/makes.

Trade Vuc and assets for Ayton/Gobert or someone not afraid to be a big man.

Why would Bulls trade Lavine? He’s still only 27 years old and they have the foundation of a young offensive and defensive core with Lonzo, Pat Williams, Caruso and Ayo. I can definitely see Zach playing a Devin Booker type role on a balanced team of youths and vets. The Bulls are just lacking the Chris Paul type vet that will put them into that contender status. I think everyone recognizes as great as Derozan has played, he probably has only a couple more years left and Vucevic on the inside is a disaster defensively.

He is absolutely not in Booker's wheelhouse imo. Numbers wise they're similar but Book is a much better defender and significantly more sturdy and healthy.

I know he missed games too early on, but those were tanking teams and they wanted him to sit. If he is needed to play, he will play as proven last playoffs when he didn't lose a game after having his face broken.

I’m not sure what the advance stats say but I don’t think Lavine is anywhere near Booker - imo

Do you think minus CP3 Lavine could have led the suns?

I don’t think it’s a basketball skills issue -

It’s the intangibles that are actually relevant and even tangible if people had time to analyze that I think Booker has over Zack… like shot selection… Zack take the wrong shot at the wrong time more often than book as I see it. Like in the game yesterday, you knew when Zack was taking the shot… he telegraphed that “this shot is going up no matter what” so often By dribbling out the shot clock or stepping into a 3 or what ever at times when those things were not needed.

[Lunartic]

The Bulls would be fools to not pay him, he's got flaws but most players do. He's on Devin Booker's level. Who do you replace him with? Someone suggested Jalen Brunson and Bertans? That's a trash return.

Lavine is indeed a max player, he's playing injured right now but he's capable of averaging 30ppg on high efficiency, the Bulls need to create a better team around him and DDR, they have no shooters, no bigs, no 3D types. Bulls are the worst 3point team in the league in terms of attempts/makes.

Trade Vuc and assets for Ayton/Gobert or someone not afraid to be a big man.

Why would Bulls trade Lavine? He’s still only 27 years old and they have the foundation of a young offensive and defensive core with Lonzo, Pat Williams, Caruso and Ayo. I can definitely see Zach playing a Devin Booker type role on a balanced team of youths and vets. The Bulls are just lacking the Chris Paul type vet that will put them into that contender status. I think everyone recognizes as great as Derozan has played, he probably has only a couple more years left and Vucevic on the inside is a disaster defensively.

He is absolutely not in Booker's wheelhouse imo. Numbers wise they're similar but Book is a much better defender and significantly more sturdy and healthy.

I know he missed games too early on, but those were tanking teams and they wanted him to sit. If he is needed to play, he will play as proven last playoffs when he didn't lose a game after having his face broken.

I’m not sure what the advance stats say but I don’t think Lavine is anywhere near Booker - imo

Do you think minus CP3 Lavine could have led the suns?

I don’t think it’s a basketball skills issue -

It’s the intangibles that are actually relevant and even tangible if people had time to analyze that I think Booker has over Zack… like shot selection… Zack take the wrong shot at the wrong time more often than book as I see it. Like in the game yesterday, you knew when Zack was taking the shot… he telegraphed that “this shot is going up no matter what” so often By dribbling out the shot clock or stepping into a 3 or what ever at times when those things were not needed.

Where did Booker lead the Suns prior to getting CP3? Replace Book with Lavine and they're just as good (zach is gimpy currently due to an injury)

[Castle Black]

If he doesn't stay in Chicago I'd like to see him in San Antonio. He'd make a kick ass back court alongside Dejounte.

Both Seattle & New Balance guys who are good friends off the court too.

But he’s not nearly worth a Max contract, which is what Chicago will give him. He’s not going anywhere. They’ll never be contenders with him as one of their 2 best players though. Even when they’re fully healthy (DeMar’s a playoff loser who is 33 and will likely fall off in a couple years anyways). And they’ll be stuck with that albatross of a contract.

[bebopdeluxe]

Bill Simmons mentioned, Harden for LaVine trade if things go south in Philly.

haha
harden has no legs

Who cares. Keep shooting 4-for-7 from 3 with a FOURTEEN TO ONE assist-to turnover ratio while Embiid, Maxey and Harris eat.

Works for me.

[Lalouie]

Bill Simmons mentioned, Harden for LaVine trade if things go south in Philly.

haha
harden has no legs

Who cares. Keep shooting 4-for-7 from 3 with a FOURTEEN TO ONE assist-to turnover ratio while Embiid, Maxey and Harris eat.

Works for me.

umm, what i'm sayin' is the bulls wouldn't make the trade, ie harden has no legs

is what i meant

[bebopdeluxe]

haha
harden has no legs

Who cares. Keep shooting 4-for-7 from 3 with a FOURTEEN TO ONE assist-to turnover ratio while Embiid, Maxey and Harris eat.

Works for me.

umm, what i'm sayin' is the bulls wouldn't make the trade, ie harden has no legs

is what i meant

The Bulls don't need Harden, as long as Ball bounces back.

[Johnny Bball]

He ain't going anywhere.

And the top free agents in summer might be Ayton and Harden.

[Slim Charlez]

I wouldn't mind him if he teamed up with his boy DJ in San Antonio. Supposedly developed a good relationship with Pop at the Olympics as well.

[Lalouie]

Who cares. Keep shooting 4-for-7 from 3 with a FOURTEEN TO ONE assist-to turnover ratio while Embiid, Maxey and Harris eat.

Works for me.

umm, what i'm sayin' is the bulls wouldn't make the trade, ie harden has no legs

is what i meant

The Bulls don't need Harden, as long as Ball bounces back.

i'm seriously worried about lonzo. he's turning into ad. like little injuries that set him back. i don't like this latest one

[Slim Charless]

He is absolutely not in Booker's wheelhouse imo. Numbers wise they're similar but Book is a much better defender and significantly more sturdy and healthy.

I know he missed games too early on, but those were tanking teams and they wanted him to sit. If he is needed to play, he will play as proven last playoffs when he didn't lose a game after having his face broken.

I’m not sure what the advance stats say but I don’t think Lavine is anywhere near Booker - imo

Do you think minus CP3 Lavine could have led the suns?

I don’t think it’s a basketball skills issue -

It’s the intangibles that are actually relevant and even tangible if people had time to analyze that I think Booker has over Zack… like shot selection… Zack take the wrong shot at the wrong time more often than book as I see it. Like in the game yesterday, you knew when Zack was taking the shot… he telegraphed that “this shot is going up no matter what” so often By dribbling out the shot clock or stepping into a 3 or what ever at times when those things were not needed.

Where did Booker lead the Suns prior to getting CP3? Replace Book with Lavine and they're just as good (zach is gimpy currently due to an injury)

Absolutely false.

Zach isn't even the most valuable player on his own team and I can make a great case that the team stunk after losing Lonzo. Which would make Zach 3rd place. Which is probably his best spot: 3rd option on a championship team that has good defenders to make up for him.

If you could replace RWB with him on a healthy LAL team, that'd be ideal.

He's nowhere near Booker, who's a better scorer as well but it's just isn't needed via the way Phoenix plays currently.

[Slim Charless]

He ain't going anywhere.

And the top free agents in summer might be Ayton and Harden.

There's a better chance of him leaving than Ayton.

[SK21209]

I wouldn't mind him if he teamed up with his boy DJ in San Antonio. Supposedly developed a good relationship with Pop at the Olympics as well.

That could be interesting. With Murray/Lavine/Vassell/Keldon, maybe then you could move some combination of Primo and those three first round picks (9, 21 and 24) for some front court help? That could be a very good team.

[Johnny Bball]

He ain't going anywhere.

And the top free agents in summer might be Ayton and Harden.

There's a better chance of him leaving than Ayton.

I’m really not sure how cheap the suns have to be. Someone maxes him in a sign and trade… I doubt they match it.

[Slim Charless]

He ain't going anywhere.

And the top free agents in summer might be Ayton and Harden.

There's a better chance of him leaving than Ayton.

I’m really not sure how cheap the suns have to be. Someone maxes him in a sign and trade… I doubt they match it.

I disagree.

I'm not saying that he'll 100% be there come Oct (though he will be ) but he won't be leaving for free without the team extracting something from whoever gets him.

[itlnsunsfan]

He ain't going anywhere.

And the top free agents in summer might be Ayton and Harden.

There's a better chance of him leaving than Ayton.

I’m really not sure how cheap the suns have to be. Someone maxes him in a sign and trade… I doubt they match it.

The Suns already were willing to offer Ayton a 4 year max. The non-starter was Ayton wanted the 5 year. Other teams can only offer Ayton a 4 year max. The Suns will happily match that.

Let's dispel with the notion the Suns are going to let Ayton walk. They're not. They're just being smart financially. Let the market dictate whether or not he's offered the 4 year max, then match whatever he's offered. Makes sense huh.

[ForeverTFC]

him re-signing is likely the overwhelming favorite. If he was to move in a sign and trade, I think he'd look great in Toronto alongside Barnes, Siakam and OG but my fellow Raps fans disagree.

Other options: Utah for Mitchell if Mitchell asks out though I doubt Lavine agrees to a contract there. Lakers for AD? Denver for Murray and some pieces?

LOL at the thought of Zach Lavine or any American approving a sign and trade to Toronto.

This doesn't make sense to me. Even though it might be true.

I'm sure 1 of the 100k Raptor fans we have on this site can clear this up for me but the way I see it is any NBA player that signs with Toronto would be 1 of the bigger stars in Canada I'd figure.

Like if Kawhi would've re-signed, I think he probably could've sold a TON more shoes. Americans aren't buying any of non-Nike/Adidas BB shoes, but maybe the Canadian fans might've in order to support the guy? Plus, you have to figure that you'd be the focus of all of the non hockey stuff that happens up there.

IDK seems to me that you could get a lot of untapped money up there. Raptor fans wanna weigh in here?

There is a lot of money to be made. I remember there was a lot of chatter that Vince made more money in Toronto than in NJ from endorsements. Kyle Lowry still has national commercials running here with new sponsorships and he's on another team. Kawhi crushed it in his 1 year in Toronto - think of everything that went viral in his time here compared to SA or LA. Toronto itself is a top 5 NBA market and Raptors stars get exposure beyond that across the country.




It still is harder for us to attract talent in FA though. There are a few reasons for that:
1. High tax rates - the same as NY and CA. Players on the Knicks, Nets, Raptors, Lakers, Warriors and Kings pay the highest income tax in the whole league.
2. Travel - you have to go through customs 2-4 times per week. It's not as bad as it's made out to be but it still is a minor inconvenience
3. Weather - A mix of NY and Chicago weather, not necessarily a draw for players who prefer warmer climates
4. Proximity to family - a lot of players get their passports for the first time when they come into the league. Not sure that all family members have a passport and while you're no further from family than when you are in NY or Boston or Detroit for example, there is still a feeling that you are further from your family in a different country
5. Lack of relevance in US media - we never get our fair share of national games because our viewers don't count in US ratings. Additionally, a lot of social media content goes to NBA Canada accounts and not the main NBA account. So players feel they have less relevancy in the US

Still, while not a draw, we are right there with most of the league. An American player will come to Toronto over half the franchises in this league on the account of how great the city is and how great the franchise has become.

[ImSlower]

I'd be resolutely shocked if the Bulls didn't offer their (non supermax) maximum this off-season. For better or for worse, the backcourt of Ball and LaVine are, in my opinion, written in permanent marker on the Bulls front office's whiteboard. It's pretty clear that LaVine needs a top tier facilitator next to him to get him into his rhythm shots. While I am just as skeptical as many that Lonzo Ball will eventually play more than 80% of a season at some point, I think that AKME want those two guys together.

While I respect the many opinions that LaVine will never be a winner when it counts as a #1 or possibly even #2 option, the Bulls have committed to that backcourt.

"What the hell are the Bulls going to do this off-season?" is a pretty interesting thread post-playoffs. Surely they can't blame injuries and bring back this thoroughly uneven squad with minor tweaks, but I still think it's the most likely outcome.

[Sothron]

He would look great in a Hawks jersey. People forget the Hawks only have one All Star on the roster. It would be great to add another star player next to Trae Young. Imagine the games Lavine could have feasting off Trae's passes and the Atlanta high octane offense.

[Slim Charless]

He would look great in a Hawks jersey. People forget the Hawks only have one All Star on the roster. It would be great to add another star player next to Trae Young. Imagine the games Lavine could have feasting off Trae's passes and the Atlanta high octane offense.

I think you guys should ship Capela and Collins for AD. I know *some* Hawks fans think that you'll be getting Ayton from us, but that's not gonna happen.

Davis, provided he agrees to play there would be a perfect Trae partner. He could even play PF as you have OO to play the pivot.

[CobraCommander]

I’m not sure what the advance stats say but I don’t think Lavine is anywhere near Booker - imo

Do you think minus CP3 Lavine could have led the suns?

I don’t think it’s a basketball skills issue -

It’s the intangibles that are actually relevant and even tangible if people had time to analyze that I think Booker has over Zack… like shot selection… Zack take the wrong shot at the wrong time more often than book as I see it. Like in the game yesterday, you knew when Zack was taking the shot… he telegraphed that “this shot is going up no matter what” so often By dribbling out the shot clock or stepping into a 3 or what ever at times when those things were not needed.

Where did Booker lead the Suns prior to getting CP3? Replace Book with Lavine and they're just as good (zach is gimpy currently due to an injury)

Absolutely false.

Zach isn't even the most valuable player on his own team and I can make a great case that the team stunk after losing Lonzo. Which would make Zach 3rd place. Which is probably his best spot: 3rd option on a championship team that has good defenders to make up for him.

If you could replace RWB with him on a healthy LAL team, that'd be ideal.

He's nowhere near Booker, who's a better scorer as well but it's just isn't needed via the way Phoenix plays currently.

2 People that think Zach and Booker are on the same level....lunatic and Zacks mom...even zack knows he isn’t as good as Booker.