Chicago Bulls: 5 potential replacements for Zach LaVine
By Ryan Heckman
Will Barton
Right off the bat, I know most of you are thinking, “Will Barton cannot replace Zach LaVine.”
And, I would agree.
But, Barton is going to be one of those sneaky free agents this summer, who might not get as much attention as he deserves. This could be a great thing for Chicago, should LaVine leave. Barton is a phenomenal bench player who can come out and score in a hurry. He looked so good this past season that some wonder if it’s time he finds a starting role somewhere, if it’s not with the Denver Nuggets.
Barton is unrestricted, so he’s fair game to anybody. Last season, Barton averaged 15.7 points per game and shot 37 percent from deep. Could he be a number one scoring option? Absolutely not. But, is he a solid third option? Yes. I am assuming, of course, that the Bulls’ primary scoring option would either be Lauri Markkanen or somebody they find atop this year’s NBA Draft — or maybe they don’t get someone of that caliber until next year.
Either way, Barton is worth taking a shot on in free agency — and I think the Bulls should do it regardless of LaVine’s situation. Chicago can never have too many scorers in Fred Hoiberg‘s offense, and Barton gives you just that.