In NBA circles, you’ll hear a saying: “The game is about a bucket”. In essence, that’s true. The objective of a basketball game is to put the ball in the basket. Yet, beneath the layers, there’s a bit more going on.
The game is about buckets. It’s about getting buckets, helping your teammates get buckets, and stopping the other team from getting buckets. Scoring isn’t the only valuable skill for an NBA team. With that said, it’s still valuable. The league’s best teams usually have a player who can score in isolation.
The Oklahoma City Thunder could use such a player. Sure, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can score, but he also shoulders a significant playmaking load. The Thunder have lots of players who can make plays and defend, but they could use a pure bucket-getter. How about Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Davis Bertans, G/F Luguentz Dort, G/F Victor Oladipo, 2024 First-Round Pick (Top 4 Protected – HOU via OKC), 2026 First-Round Pick (LAC via OKC)
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: G/F Zach LaVine
In fact, pure scorers like LaVine have somewhat fallen out of fashion. Think about it. The last traditional volume scorer to win an MVP was the late Kobe Bryant. What happened to the bucket-getter?
Well, point guards started getting buckets. Now, the league’s best guards are typically hybrid scorers/playmakers. We’ve seen Steph Curry, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook rack up MVP awards in recent history. They can (or in some cases, could) all get buckets, but at the same time, they could set up their teammates as well. Can the volume scorer make a comeback?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets certainly hope so. Meanwhile, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns may argue that they already have. In the end, volume scorers will always have a place in the league – whether they’re MVP winners or not. Should the Thunder make a place for LaVine?
Why The Oklahoma City Thunder Do The Deal
This deal won’t be popular with all Thunder fans. Many of them have grown attached to their pair of jumbo playmakers in the backcourt. Between Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, the Thunder have ample guard talent.
Sure. On the other hand, we haven’t seen that duo in a playoff setting. It feels possible that their combined lack of floor spacing will be an issue. Meanwhile, this deal wouldn’t require the Thunder to move either player. Giddey has the size to play the 3. The Thunder could keep their surplus of playmaking on a long-term basis – and add an injection of scoring in the process.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
After all, LaVine is one of the purest scorers in the game. He’s been overtaxed as the best player on the Bulls, but as a number two alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, he ought to thrive. If the Thunder want to take a step forward next season, they could be intrigued by LaVine. Should the Bulls part with him?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Bulls should be looking at what the Thunder have done. This team recognized that it was time to rebuild. They traded the best players on their team for young players and draft capital, and they were patient. It’s time for the Bulls to do the same.
After all, this team was wildly disappointing in 2022-23. This team won’t get the same type of draft capital that the Thunder once did for Russell Westbrook and Paul George. The market has changed, and the Bulls’ players aren’t as valuable in a vacuum. Still, landing a pair of first-rounders for LaVine would be a good start.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
Meanwhile, adding Dort makes sense as well. He’s an elite point-of-attack defender who’s young enough to grow with this core. He may not be a walking bucket, but he’s certainly good at stopping opponents from putting the ball in the hoop.
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