LaVine traded to the Kings as part of 3 team deal (Huerter, Tre Jones to Bulls)

[PaKii94]

Guess Zach took my posts personally tonight lol

[sco]

I still think it's hilarious that an NBA team saw what the Bulls did over the last five seasons and thought "we need to emulate that, better trade our fanbase's favorite player". Why are they building around Demar and Lavine? Remember when they had Halliburton on their team? Remember when they drafted Marvin Badley instead of Doncic?

The Bulls make questionable decisions but thank goodness we're not Kings fans.

The follow-on question is "Do they want Vuc"?

[MrSparkle]

I still think it's hilarious that an NBA team saw what the Bulls did over the last five seasons and thought "we need to emulate that, better trade our fanbase's favorite player". Why are they building around Demar and Lavine? Remember when they had Halliburton on their team? Remember when they drafted Marvin Badley instead of Doncic?

The Bulls make questionable decisions but thank goodness we're not Kings fans.

The follow-on question is "Do they want Vuc"?

The missing piece. Just wait until we tell them about the #4 pick who needs a change of scenery.

[greenwing]

I still think it's hilarious that an NBA team saw what the Bulls did over the last five seasons and thought "we need to emulate that, better trade our fanbase's favorite player". Why are they building around Demar and Lavine? Remember when they had Halliburton on their team? Remember when they drafted Marvin Badley instead of Doncic?

The Bulls make questionable decisions but thank goodness we're not Kings fans.

The follow-on question is "Do they want Vuc"?

The missing piece. Just wait until we tell them about the #4 pick who needs a change of scenery.

Ironically, while the interior defense would not be great, a twin tower package of Sabonis and Vucevic would actually be interesting to watch. They'd kill teams on the boards and would be a good pair offensively.

[kodo]

I still think it's hilarious that an NBA team saw what the Bulls did over the last five seasons and thought "we need to emulate that, better trade our fanbase's favorite player". Why are they building around Demar and Lavine? Remember when they had Halliburton on their team? Remember when they drafted Marvin Badley instead of Doncic?

The Bulls make questionable decisions but thank goodness we're not Kings fans.

Both Demar & Lavine played better separated, and they re-unite again. Then you have Malik Monk who is another scorer starting with them (until recently), and no PG. And Sabonis also deserves the most touches.

That being said they just beat the Cavs twice with Lavine going for 37, 7-11 from 3. The talent is there, but what god awful roster construction. Similar to Phoenix.

[MGB8]

So LaVine and DDR are on a mission to prove that they can drag a team to the playoffs by themselves, so long as they have someone at C who is a bit better at passing and D than Vuc, even with no PG and weaker depth?

[sco]

So LaVine and DDR are on a mission to prove that they can drag a team to the playoffs by themselves, so long as they have someone at C who is a bit better at passing and D than Vuc, even with no PG and weaker depth?

They are who they are, and if they were surrounded by good 3-D players and a good defensive C, they'd do pretty well IMO. They are so ball dominant, they don't really need (or want) a PG. Put guys like Ball, Thompson and Kessler on that team, they'd contend. I think Sabonis could bring back enough value to really upgrade that squad.

[eierluke]

Even though LaVine might help a very good team to improve their record as a 2nd or better 3rd scoring, we still have a problem here:
LaVine has put up impressive individual stats but mark my words: our record will be as good without him than it was with him. In order to tank properly, we need another trade or a serious injury of a key player (which I definitely don't hope for).

It seems as if I had been almost on target here.
Almost, becaue
1) our wins-loss record has been even better after the trade
2) Sacrmentos record has been slightly worse after the trade, even though LaVine has put up impressive numbers (as always). But these individual stats are just the result of his gifted legs and arms, while our improvement is the result of playing with brain and heart ...

[dougthonus]

It seems as if I had been almost on target here.
Almost, becaue
1) our wins-loss record has been even better after the trade
2) Sacrmentos record has been slightly worse after the trade, even though LaVine has put up impressive numbers (as always). But these individual stats are just the result of his gifted legs and arms, while our improvement is the result of playing with brain and heart ...

Another thought:

Our previous record was because during LaVine's time here we played one of the toughest schedules in the NBA and over the stretch while he was gone, we played one of the lightest schedules, and no one should over think things too much.

Since Zach left our wins:
76ers x2
Raptors x2
Magic
Heat x2
Pacers (without Haliburton)
Nets
Jazz
Kings
Lakers x2
Nuggets (without Jokic)
Blazers
Hornets
Wizards

Based on the conditions of the games and how the teams were playing:

2: Good beat teams: Lakers (x2)
3: Averag-ish teams beat: Magic, Blazers, Kings (all 3 were still below .500)
4: Situationally bad teams that were at least trying but had tank quality rosters: Pacers, Nuggets, Heat (x2)
8: Teams actively trying to lose: (everyone else)

Even a lot of those teams that were bad that we played early had gone into tanking mode and made trades to get rid of talent at the deadline and their records declined significantly at the tail end of the season.

This isn't to say Zach was a big difference maker, he wasn't, but the single biggest thing impacting our record wasn't Zach leaving and magically playing a better brand of basketball. It was the schedule and the way the end of the season plays out.

[sco]

It seems as if I had been almost on target here.
Almost, becaue
1) our wins-loss record has been even better after the trade
2) Sacrmentos record has been slightly worse after the trade, even though LaVine has put up impressive numbers (as always). But these individual stats are just the result of his gifted legs and arms, while our improvement is the result of playing with brain and heart ...

Another thought:

Our previous record was because during LaVine's time here we played one of the toughest schedules in the NBA and over the stretch while he was gone, we played one of the lightest schedules, and no one should over think things too much.

Since Zach left our wins:
76ers x2
Raptors x2
Magic
Heat x2
Pacers (without Haliburton)
Nets
Jazz
Kings
Lakers x2
Nuggets (without Jokic)
Blazers
Hornets
Wizards

Based on the conditions of the games and how the teams were playing:

2: Good beat teams: Lakers (x2)
3: Averag-ish teams beat: Magic, Blazers, Kings (all 3 were still below .500)
4: Situationally bad teams that were at least trying but had tank quality rosters: Pacers, Nuggets, Heat (x2)
8: Teams actively trying to lose: (everyone else)

Even a lot of those teams that were bad that we played early had gone into tanking mode and made trades to get rid of talent at the deadline and their records declined significantly at the tail end of the season.

This isn't to say Zach was a big difference maker, he wasn't, but the single biggest thing impacting our record wasn't Zach leaving and magically playing a better brand of basketball. It was the schedule and the way the end of the season plays out.

There is much truth to that. I will say that, briefly - while Jones was healthy and Vuc was injured, this team seemed to be materially better because our defense picked up while our offense didn't seem to fall-off. A line-up of Jones, White, Giddey, Buzelis and Collins, despite being devoid of "names" may have been our best starting 5 as a whole I've seen since the Ball injury.

[kodo]

TBH I think we had more impressive wins when Lavine was on the team.

vs Nuggets (w/ Joker, Jamal healthy)
vs Clippers (Harden healthy)
2x vs Knicks (healthy both times)
vs Boston (fully healthy)
vs Milwaukee (both Dame/Giannis healthy)

The post-trade team had some big Ws like vs LA, but we also benefitted from playoff teams resting guys like Joker & Haliburton.

[Red8911]

It seems as if I had been almost on target here.
Almost, becaue
1) our wins-loss record has been even better after the trade
2) Sacrmentos record has been slightly worse after the trade, even though LaVine has put up impressive numbers (as always). But these individual stats are just the result of his gifted legs and arms, while our improvement is the result of playing with brain and heart ...

Another thought:

Our previous record was because during LaVine's time here we played one of the toughest schedules in the NBA and over the stretch while he was gone, we played one of the lightest schedules, and no one should over think things too much.

Since Zach left our wins:
76ers x2
Raptors x2
Magic
Heat x2
Pacers (without Haliburton)
Nets
Jazz
Kings
Lakers x2
Nuggets (without Jokic)
Blazers
Hornets
Wizards

Based on the conditions of the games and how the teams were playing:

2: Good beat teams: Lakers (x2)
3: Averag-ish teams beat: Magic, Blazers, Kings (all 3 were still below .500)
4: Situationally bad teams that were at least trying but had tank quality rosters: Pacers, Nuggets, Heat (x2)
8: Teams actively trying to lose: (everyone else)

Even a lot of those teams that were bad that we played early had gone into tanking mode and made trades to get rid of talent at the deadline and their records declined significantly at the tail end of the season.

This isn't to say Zach was a big difference maker, he wasn't, but the single biggest thing impacting our record wasn't Zach leaving and magically playing a better brand of basketball. It was the schedule and the way the end of the season plays out.

What? Terrible take . This team is so much better than they were pre trade.

Sure it took them a couple of weeks to get their sht together but they finally did and this team is so much stronger.

First of all with Zach leaving it unlocked Giddey and Coby to perform at a higher level and the 3 players received in the trade have been awesome.

If anyone doesn’t admit that they are just hating on them. If the trade had happened a couple of weeks earlier I have no doubt the bulls would have been the 6th seed.

Trading Zach was a great move not only for now and for the future of this team.

[dougthonus]

What? Terrible take . This team is so much better than they were pre trade.

Sure it took them a couple of weeks to get their sht together but they finally did and this team is so much stronger.

First of all with Zach leaving it unlocked Giddey and Coby to perform at a higher level and the 3 players received in the trade have been awesome.

If anyone doesn’t admit that they are just hating on them. If the trade had happened a couple of weeks earlier I have no doubt the bulls would have been the 6th seed.

Trading Zach was a great move not only for now and for the future of this team.

Nothing you said really contradicts anything I said. I agree trading Zach was a good idea. I agree we might even be better now and that Zach moving on may have been part of that process.

Just pointing out that Zach LaVine isn't nearly as a big a factor as our schedule was. We had similar runs at the end of each of the last two seasons for similar reasons.

[eierluke]

It is really interesting that the Kings were 25-24 when LaVine arrived and finished 15 - 18 from there on and that happend despit Lavine beeing honored as eatern conference player of the week and so on. He must really think that he is doing allright.

As a Bulls fan I'm happy for the trade.
For LaVine it would have been better to land alongside an established superstar with knowledge of the game (LeBron) to teach him what to do and what to let in order to optimize his basketball talent (speed, jump, shoot, ball handling) what he has without a doubt.

[WesPeace]

We talked about this a lot already, but Kings GM is lost! Directionless dummie who assembled team who just doesnt fit together at all. Still cant believe they traded away Haliburton and then also Fox in few years lol. Now their starting 5 played last third of season without PG?! How stupid is that??

[MissileMike]

It is really interesting that the Kings were 25-24 when LaVine arrived and finished 15 - 18 from there on and that happend despit Lavine beeing honored as eatern conference player of the week and so on. He must really think that he is doing allright.

But they lost Fox.

[PaKii94]

From the general board

Rusty Buckets did (a long-winded as usual) video essay on the death of the SG and used Zach LaVine as his prototype.

Basically, a volume scoring SG without playmaking abilities is the least valuable player in today’s NBA. Players like Zach LaVine are best suited as 6th men, but are talented enough to score 25 PPG, thus tricking teams into thinking he’s a 1st option.

Watch on YouTube

[ChettheJet]

It's difficult to listen to Stacey King continually say that they are playing better 'since the all star break" so that he doesn't have to state the obvious, it's not the break it's the trade at the deadline that has made the difference in the record with 12 of the 15 players being the same. Those who want to say that the Bulls winning has been against poor, tanking or shorthanded teams. Try to admit one huge problem that's been cured in that span is the Bulls were constantly accused, rightfully so, of playing DOWN to the level of the competition. That's how they lost to the Wizards at a point when they'd won 6 games with 2 coming against the Bulls.

With Lavine moving on Giddey and White were able to play into their strengths, Huerter plays a much different game on both ends than Zach did. Huerter doesn't need the ball in his hands nearly as much as Zach did, he gets the same kind of wide open shots but doesn't force very many shots. Now when Giddey has the ball in control of the offense the defense has to pay attention to Vuc, Collins. Huerter, Williams, Phillips even Terry which opens up the lane for Josh and Coby. Zach went to the basket but but primarily not looking for anyone else so the defense could collapse on him.


that's why when the same people keep lusting after some different $40 or $50M star name it completely ignores what has happened to this team since they moved on from the one they had.

[DuckIII]

It seems as if I had been almost on target here.
Almost, becaue
1) our wins-loss record has been even better after the trade
2) Sacrmentos record has been slightly worse after the trade, even though LaVine has put up impressive numbers (as always). But these individual stats are just the result of his gifted legs and arms, while our improvement is the result of playing with brain and heart ...

Another thought:

Our previous record was because during LaVine's time here we played one of the toughest schedules in the NBA and over the stretch while he was gone, we played one of the lightest schedules, and no one should over think things too much.

Since Zach left our wins:
76ers x2
Raptors x2
Magic
Heat x2
Pacers (without Haliburton)
Nets
Jazz
Kings
Lakers x2
Nuggets (without Jokic)
Blazers
Hornets
Wizards

Based on the conditions of the games and how the teams were playing:

2: Good beat teams: Lakers (x2)
3: Averag-ish teams beat: Magic, Blazers, Kings (all 3 were still below .500)
4: Situationally bad teams that were at least trying but had tank quality rosters: Pacers, Nuggets, Heat (x2)
8: Teams actively trying to lose: (everyone else)

Even a lot of those teams that were bad that we played early had gone into tanking mode and made trades to get rid of talent at the deadline and their records declined significantly at the tail end of the season.

This isn't to say Zach was a big difference maker, he wasn't, but the single biggest thing impacting our record wasn't Zach leaving and magically playing a better brand of basketball. It was the schedule and the way the end of the season plays out.

What? Terrible take . This team is so much better than they were pre trade.

Sure it took them a couple of weeks to get their sht together but they finally did and this team is so much stronger.

First of all with Zach leaving it unlocked Giddey and Coby to perform at a higher level and the 3 players received in the trade have been awesome.

If anyone doesn’t admit that they are just hating on them. If the trade had happened a couple of weeks earlier I have no doubt the bulls would have been the 6th seed.

Trading Zach was a great move not only for now and for the future of this team.

He said the record disparity is most heavily influenced by who we played. Not that we aren’t better. Both are true.

[sco]

From the general board

Rusty Buckets did (a long-winded as usual) video essay on the death of the SG and used Zach LaVine as his prototype.

Basically, a volume scoring SG without playmaking abilities is the least valuable player in today’s NBA. Players like Zach LaVine are best suited as 6th men, but are talented enough to score 25 PPG, thus tricking teams into thinking he’s a 1st option.

Watch on YouTube

Interesting, but tries too hard to make a point. Didn't like him dissing my boy Kevin Huerter as well. Didn't mention Giddey as a tall PG. I know this was an older video though.