Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: 20 best players available

By Micah Wimmer

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 15: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 15: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 15, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

10. Zach LaVine

Throughout the 2016-17 season, Zach LaVine looked poised to become a great sidekick to future star Karl-Anthony Towns, but then, LaVine tore his ACL, ending both his season and his tenure with the Timberwolves. That offseason, he was the centerpiece of the Jimmy Butler deal going to the Chicago Bulls alongside Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. However, he only ended up playing 24 games for the Bulls last season after returning from injury and looked far from his old self, posting the worst shooting percentages of his career and appearing as rusty as one would expect after spending a full year on the sidelines. After having a full offseason of recovery, though, it makes sense to hope and expect that LaVine will be back to normal this season, perhaps even better than that considering his young age and how much he had progressed his first three seasons in the NBA.

The Bulls are going to do whatever they have to to keep LaVine this offseason. While Lauri Markkanen had a much better season than most expected him to, LaVine was still the main reason the Bulls agreed to trade Butler to the Timberwolves rather than another team. Also, losing LaVine would make the trade make even worse than it already does. Finally, the Bulls don’t have a ton of money already committed to elsewhere as much of their roster is made up of young players still on their rookie contracts. At this point, only Robin Lopez and Omer Asik are lined up to make over ten million for the Bulls next season, meaning signing LaVine won’t only be a major goal for the Bulls this offseason, but an easy one to achieve.

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