LaVine is back in the headlines!
The Bulls just announced that the team is sending LaVine to the Windy City Bulls, an affiliate of the Development League, for recovery work. This may seem like a normal operation, but there may be more underlying motivations. Perhaps, the Bulls management is sending a clear signal that LaVine's time in Chicago may be counting down with this move.
LaVine was frequently rumored to leave the team as early as last season, and this season's trade rumors have swept the basketball community early. It was revealed that LaVine is open to leaving the Bulls, and what he hopes most is to join the Los Angeles Lakers and create brilliance with James and Brother Bush. However, the market seems to have reacted unusually to LaVine's deal.
LaVine's on-court value is somewhat "abstract" at this stage. Since entering the Bulls in 2017-18, he has risen to prominence as one of the league's brightest scorers at the No. 2 spot. However, his three-point shooting percentage has been declining year by year, and this season it has fallen to 33.6%. This, coupled with the fact that his fitness has been questioned, has weakened the interest of the championship contenders in him.
Although LaVine's scoring ability cannot be denied, his fluctuating form on the court, his lack of discipline and his slightly fragile physical fitness have become a major shortcoming in his value assessment. In addition, his huge contract also became a stumbling block in the trade.
The Bulls have delegated LaVine to a clear sell-by-sell signal. However, in the event of a downturn, they may need to be prepared to sell at a discount. The Lakers prefer to trade LaVine with water over Rivers, and the Bulls even need a first-round pick in their latest proposal.
In this sluggish market situation, the wisdom of the Bulls' management is facing a huge test. LaVine's trade rumors with the Warriors have caused another uproar, perhaps precisely because his value is too abstract. We'll see how the trade controversy evolves and where LaVine continues to write his basketball legacy.