Throughout human history, we have witnessed great inventions that dramatically accelerated civilization. The wheel, to name just one example, certainly ranks among the top five. And whoever came up with the crazy idea of squishing two cookies together, with vanilla ice cream as the filling center…we all applaud you.
As it stands, we could be on the threshold of an evolutionary leap similar to that of the ice cream sandwich, and it comes to us via the Denver Nuggets, who are reportedly interested in acquiring Bulls guard Zach LaVine.
The high-performance shooter has, for various reasons, become underrated to a point that borders on the ridiculous.
Yes, his contract is indeed huge. LaVine is making $43 million this year and has two years left at around $46 million and $48.9 million, although last year is a player option.
LaVine’s financial component poses a major hurdle, and in recent years the league has reportedly deemed the contract non-negotiable due to its magnitude.
It always seemed like a bridge too far, and it smacked of teams or individuals blaming Chicago’s lack of results solely on LaVine, instead of looking at management and ownership, who never seemed to understand what do with a player like him.
LaVine is not a first option. He’s been pushed into that role before and he’s had decent individual results, but he was never meant to be the main player. There was a pretty important reason for this.
Over the course of his career, and especially since entering his prime during his years in Chicago, LaVine has become a truly bad off-ball scorer.
In 2020-21, LaVine ranked seventh in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage (48.9%) of players with 50+ games played, while being (by far) the team’s primary offensive weapon. Chicago.
That same season, he ranked in the 97th percentile in efficiency, again as the Bulls’ primary offensive player, with defenses preparing to stop him.
Since then, LaVine has remained a highly efficient off-ball player, only falling below 40 percent on 3-pointers during his injury-riddled season last year when he was limited at 25 matches.
What’s intriguing about this level of efficiency is that LaVine has never played with a player who is an elite playmaker and also functions as a top option.
In short, he never had his Batman.
In Denver, he would finally have his… well, Joker. But Nikola Jokić is also Batman in this scenario.
Okay, forget the superhero analogy. LaVine has never played alongside a superstar, and he certainly has never played alongside a superstar of Jokić’s caliber as someone who could be a top 10 player of all time.
In Denver, LaVine would essentially get the easiest 20-25 points per game he could imagine due to his aforementioned ball-playing skills.
The 29-year-old would also bend defenses to a degree that would open the floor more for Jokić and Jamal Murray, which should breathe new life into Denver’s offense.
With Jokić frequently drawing double teams, LaVine would immediately benefit from moving and bursting the ball like nothing he’s ever seen in Chicago, with all due respect to DeMar DeRozan.
LaVine would also inject some much-needed 3-point creation into Denver’s offense. While Michael Porter Jr. would likely head to Chicago in such a deal, the forward isn’t able to create 3-point shots off the dribble to the extent of LaVine, as he simply lacks the handling ball, speed and touch to hit. off-angle shots as he contorts in the air.
That’s not to say some challenges wouldn’t develop in Denver, as LaVine isn’t a standout defender. Offensively speaking, though, the fit just makes sense.
Often in the NBA, obvious deals don’t get made. Teams will pivot in a direction that will surprise most observers, and we find ourselves imagining what a certain player on a certain team might be like.
Here the possibility takes on a supernatural meaning.
It’s obvious. It’s fresh. This is the right thing to try. So based on past experiences…don’t get your hopes up.
