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Chicago Bulls: Buy or sell Zach LaVine as an All-Star?

By Rob Schwarz Jr

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Zach LaVine #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves competes during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2015 NBA Allstar Weekend at Barclays Center on February 14, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Zach LaVine #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves competes during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2015 NBA Allstar Weekend at Barclays Center on February 14, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Sorry, not quite for Zach LaVine

The Chicago Bulls need Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine to be better than solid if the team is to compete for the playoffs. However, can someone who does not play a lick of defense be considered an All-Star? If LaVine is scoring 25 points per game, but allowing 30, is that a worthy performance for an All-Star? I would think not.

Personally, I am buying LaVine as an All-Star this season and hopefully beyond. If he and Markkanen play most of the season together, I see LaVine building on his 23.7 points per game he put up last year. However, I can understand why not everyone feels this way.

One of the advanced stats used in the NBA is win shares. LaVine had his best season last year with a 2.8. Looking at the NBA leaders though, the top player was James Harden with a 15.2 win share. Now, if we look at the bottom of the top-20 list, we will find the likes of Montrezl Harrell. Harrell finished last season with an 8.7 win share.

If LaVine is supposed to be an All-Star, he should own a better win share right? The Chicago Bulls shooting guard has never finished with a Value Over Replacement Player rating over 1.1. However, the top player in the 2018-2019 season was again James Harden. Harden had a 9.9 rating. The 20th best had a rating of 3.6. Clearly, if you believe in advanced analytics, LaVine is not an All-Star.

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I am a combination analyst. I believe in numbers. Following the numbers is very important. However, I also pay attention to the eye test. I think LaVine passes the eye test and he will prove to others this season why he deserves an All-Star status.

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