Zach Lowe recently released a podcast with Bill Simmons and on the podcast, he mentioned that the Zach LaVine had been rumored to the Denver Nuggets a few times in the past. This conversation was created by Michael Porter Jr. trade talk.
The Chicago Bulls new VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas is the man that helped bring Porter Jr. to the Denver Nuggets in the 2018 NBA Draft. Now, obviously this is all hypothetical at this point, but what if Artūras tries to make a deal and bring Porter Jr. to Chicago?
Zach LaVine is coming off his best season as a pro. He was the Chicago Bulls go-to guy and team leader. Though, as referenced in the podcast by Bill Simmons, they seemed to be empty stats on bad shots. That’s very debatable, but that’s a conversation for another day.
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 24 | CHI | NBA | SG | 60 | 60 | 34.8 | 9.0 | 20.0 | .450 | 3.1 | 8.1 | .380 | 5.9 | 11.9 | .497 | .526 | 4.5 | 5.6 | .802 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 25.5 |
The question Bulls fans should be asking themselves is this: is it worth it? Can Zach LaVine be a player you can build a winning team around? Or do you trust in Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley to make the right decision?
Michael Porter Jr. was the number one ranked prospect coming out of high school back in 2017. A back injury caused him to play only three games in college and miss all of his rookie year. But, before any of that happened, experts thought he could be the potential #1 pick in the 2018 draft.
It’s no secret that Porter Jr. has game. The young stud is 6-foot-10, has a solid jump-shot, and can handle the ball. It’s very interesting to consider him playing next to guys like Coby White and Lauri Markkanen. They all have size at their positions and have above average offensive skills.
Also, if you haven’t listened to the podcast, the only reason this has come up is due to the fact that Zach and Bill weren’t sure of Porter Jr. being content being the third option on the team. Porter Jr. made comments during the NBA Playoff Bubble noting other players on the Nuggets needed to get their looks. That’s how the conversation was sparked.
At this point, it’s safe to say the Bulls seem to be in good hands with the new front office. If a trade of this magnitude could be executed and the Bulls keep their 4th overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, the young talent is there to mold in their vision.
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if we trade zach im not a bulls fan anymore
I would love this!!!! I wanted mpj in that draft. Wish we had him AND Lavine
Lavine is a black hole with questionable defensive skills. He plays for himself, so the Bulls would be wise to get rid of him. On a team that needs a score first guard who isn’t the first option, he’d be a better fit.
Na.. Nuggets say MPJ untouchable