Zach Lavine: Offered 4/80 from Kings update p26 Bulls Matched

[Kurt Heimlich]

If LaVine can be good enough to be a third scorer on a legit playoff team, then we should be relatively content with this signing. Hopefully Lauri and LaVine can be a the second and third best players on a contender and we're able to find that clear cut franchise guy via free-agency or draft next year.

I think the rationale for most fans who question this contract is, why should we believe Zach will be this star? When he is so far from it currently? Because he played 39mpg for a bottom 7 team in the league and put up 19ppg doing so before he blew out his ACL? Statistical analysis obviously has evolved far beyond praising guys on raw numbers alone. And there is not much to like when you get to that point.

That's why it's like, ok sure if he becomes a star obviously we'd be happy. But why should we believe he will become a star anymore than we'd say Bobby Portis or David Nwaba will become a star? The reality until he proves otherwise is he has currently been a barely average to below average NBA player, coming off an ACL injury, who will now be guaranteed 20M a year for the next 4 years.

You know, I don't personally see a "star" player when I look at Klay Thompson. Instead I see a guy who has found a system that works amazingly well for him. If LaVine can go back to hitting three's at a 39% clip, raise his overall FG%, go back to have a 58% TS%, then I think he could be useful to us in a "third star" type of manner. I don't see star potential for LaVine in the traditional sense either, but I do think he's a talented player and that there's a system out there that can get the most out of him.

Yeah Klay would be a fantastic outcome for Zach. I get the feeling Zach see's himself more as a lead guard than a spot up guy though. Which mentality feels like a huge part of Zach's issues in general (in addition to the ACL). Maybe with age and experience will come knowledge and maturity and he'll find the role that fits him best.

I just think some of us are seeing what we hope Zach can be (Klay, Booker, whatever). And others of us are seeing what Zach has been (jamal crawford, jordan crawford, cindy crawford). Hopefully he surprises those of us who have been focused on what he has been.

[mymysql]

If LaVine can be good enough to be a third scorer on a legit playoff team, then we should be relatively content with this signing. Hopefully Lauri and LaVine can be a the second and third best players on a contender and we're able to find that clear cut franchise guy via free-agency or draft next year.

I think the rationale for most fans who question this contract is, why should we believe Zach will be this star? When he is so far from it currently? Because he played 39mpg for a bottom 7 team in the league and put up 19ppg doing so before he blew out his ACL? Statistical analysis obviously has evolved far beyond praising guys on raw numbers alone. And there is not much to like when you get to that point.

That's why it's like, ok sure if he becomes a star obviously we'd be happy. But why should we believe he will become a star anymore than we'd say Bobby Portis or David Nwaba will become a star? The reality until he proves otherwise is he has currently been a barely average to below average NBA player, coming off an ACL injury, who will now be guaranteed 20M a year for the next 4 years.

You know, I don't personally see a "star" player when I look at Klay Thompson. Instead I see a guy who has found a system that works amazingly well for him. If LaVine can go back to hitting three's at a 39% clip, raise his overall FG%, go back to have a 58% TS%, then I think he could be useful to us in a "third star" type of manner. I don't see star potential for LaVine in the traditional sense either, but I do think he's a talented player and that there's a system out there that can get the most out of him.

Used car salesman of the month, Homosapien

[nomorezorro]

lukewarm take: as the cap rises and teams with newly acquired space strike out on their first choices in free agency, we'll be able to dump lavine's contract if we need to based on improved scoring numbers

portland was able to painlessly cut ties with allen crabbe. people will talk themselves into a young guy who can shoot. let's chum up with the knicks front office now to lay the groundwork

[WindyCityBorn]

Top 10 rotation:

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Grant
Holiday / Valentine
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Wendell

9th seed. 14th pick.

Hutchison will be in the rotation over Grant.

[WindyCityBorn]

Top 10 rotation:

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Grant
Holiday / Valentine
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Wendell

9th seed. 14th pick.

Don't forget about Hutchison. I imagine he's going to move ahead of Grant in the rotation. Will also be interesting to see what we do with Nwaba now.

Nwaba is a goner. Zach got his money.

[PrimzyBulls81]

Top 10 rotation:

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Grant
Holiday / Valentine
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Wendell

9th seed. 14th pick.

Hutchinson will be playing a lot.

Uugh on this Lavine contract!?? Just toooo much....

[My2CentsR]

If GarPax give Lavine a 4/72M . . . . .

I don't know. No point in making empty threats. I guess I'll complete that sentence. If GarPax give Lavine a 4/72M deal, I will bitch about them anonymously on the internet.

$18M average per season would have him tied at 50th in the league.

I'd personally smile and say "good deal".

Wouldn't that place him close to the 90th percentile pay/year? At 38% FGP, 16 PPG, and injury issues, I just don't see how he's worth that. If we're willing to roll the dice with injuries, it would be nice to offer a big contract to Jabari Parker.

[BigUps]

Cap hit is $19.5 million flat over the next 4 years. A tad higher than the $18 million I had thought it would be.

Overall, this isn't THAT bad of a deal for a player with his potential. It's overpaying, but not nearly to a Felicio level. He could easily live up to this deal.

[bad knees]

lukewarm take: as the cap rises and teams with newly acquired space strike out on their first choices in free agency, we'll be able to dump lavine's contract if we need to based on improved scoring numbers

portland was able to painlessly cut ties with allen crabbe. people will talk themselves into a young guy who can shoot. let's chum up with the knicks front office now to lay the groundwork

I guess we can hope to trade him to the Kings like Portland traded Crabbe to the Nets. How about LaVine for Randolph and Shumpert? We take back a few million in salary, but at least both of those guys have expiring contracts.


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[WindyCityBorn]

If GarPax give Lavine a 4/72M . . . . .

I don't know. No point in making empty threats. I guess I'll complete that sentence. If GarPax give Lavine a 4/72M deal, I will bitch about them anonymously on the internet.

$18M average per season would have him tied at 50th in the league.

I'd personally smile and say "good deal".

Wouldn't that place him close to the 90th percentile pay/year? At 38% FGP, 16 PPG, and injury issues, I just don't see how he's worth that. If we're willing to roll the dice with injuries, it would be nice to offer a big contract to Jabari Parker.

Yeah a guy with two ACL tears and no position. Definitely a better gamble than LaVine.

[Kurt Heimlich]

Another thing I hate about this contract - I don''t want to visit the TnT or General board now because the only people who get to make fun of this terrible contract are Bulls fans, damnit.

[WindyCityBorn]

lukewarm take: as the cap rises and teams with newly acquired space strike out on their first choices in free agency, we'll be able to dump lavine's contract if we need to based on improved scoring numbers

portland was able to painlessly cut ties with allen crabbe. people will talk themselves into a young guy who can shoot. let's chum up with the knicks front office now to lay the groundwork

I guess we can hope to trade him to the Kings like Portland traded Crabbe to the Nets. How about LaVine for Randolph and Shumpert? We take back a few million in salary, but at least both of those guys have expiring contracts.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Really? That's how you are a gonna handle this? Start talking trading him already instead dealing with reality?

[mymysql]

Top 10 rotation:

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Grant
Holiday / Valentine
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Wendell

9th seed. 14th pick.

Don't forget about Hutchison. I imagine he's going to move ahead of Grant in the rotation. Will also be interesting to see what we do with Nwaba now.

Nwaba is a goner. Zach got his money.

Agreed. If we passed on Lavine, as we should have, we probably would have given Nwaba a fair salary, as we should have. Instead we have this mess..

[StunnerKO]

Top 10 rotation:

Dunn / Payne
Lavine / Grant
Holiday / Valentine
Lauri / Portis
Lopez / Wendell

9th seed. 14th pick.

Don't forget about Hutchison. I imagine he's going to move ahead of Grant in the rotation. Will also be interesting to see what we do with Nwaba now.

Nwaba is a goner. Zach got his money.

Not really

[My2CentsR]

My reaction to this is, well, alright then. I really can’t seem to find a reason to be either angry or supportive. I have no idea how to feel about Zach Lavine.

Someone, please, give me an emotion.

needy

[GimmeDat]

At worst he's a G League talent demanding a starting gig and taking up a significant amount of your cap space. That's not acceptable.

You can't genuinely think Lavine is a G-League talent, that's just ridiculous.

He's a 20 point a game scorer, who, discounting a 24 game sample last season, was an efficient shooter on a high volume of 3 point attempts.

It's like saying Bulls-era Boozer should've been getting DNP's.

We should’ve been starting Taj the whole time and using Boozers money on a 2. The Boozer signing sucked hard.

Sure, but that doesn't defeat the point. Boozer was still an important part of that team.

[PrimzyBulls81]

This was tweeted a few hours ago, so I'm sure it's been posted, but I missed it and thought it was significant:

Read on Twitter

What that means, language protection??

[bad knees]

lukewarm take: as the cap rises and teams with newly acquired space strike out on their first choices in free agency, we'll be able to dump lavine's contract if we need to based on improved scoring numbers

portland was able to painlessly cut ties with allen crabbe. people will talk themselves into a young guy who can shoot. let's chum up with the knicks front office now to lay the groundwork

I guess we can hope to trade him to the Kings like Portland traded Crabbe to the Nets. How about LaVine for Randolph and Shumpert? We take back a few million in salary, but at least both of those guys have expiring contracts.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Really? That's how you are a gonna handle this? Start talking trading him already instead dealing with reality?

A weak attempt at gallows humor, my friend. I am a realist. I know I will keep rooting for the Bulls. Let’s hope Zach proves me and his other doubters wrong.

But if the Bulls have buyer’s remorse next summer, they actually might be able to trade Zach to SAC. They are going to have a huge amount of cap space.


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[nomorezorro]

Really? That's how you are a gonna handle this? Start talking trading him already instead dealing with reality?

i think accounting for the very likely possibility that he does not live up to this contract is "dealing with reality" in a much more meaningful way than unflinchingly praising the deal and guaranteeing that lavine will be worth it

[danzou]

You know, I don't personally see a "star" player when I look at Klay Thompson. Instead I see a guy who has found a system that works amazingly well for him. If LaVine can go back to hitting three's at a 39% clip, raise his overall FG%, go back to have a 58% TS%, then I think he could be useful to us in a "third star" type of manner. I don't see star potential for LaVine in the traditional sense either, but I do think he's a talented player and that there's a system out there that can get the most out of him.

Klay plays defense.