Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is an efficient basketball participant — there is no doubt about it.
He is a two-time All-Star and as soon as averaged 27.4 factors per recreation. He is a “licensed bucket” as the children say, and he would make any staff higher, however he wasn’t an excellent match for the six-win Detroit Pistons.
One would assume that any infusion of expertise can be useful for a staff as unhealthy as Detroit is, however the Pistons are frankly fortunate that LaVine just lately opted to have season-ending surgical procedure on his proper foot.
There was actually hearth behind the rumors that Detroit was curious about buying and selling for LaVine, however for a franchise that was simply on the lowest of lows v having tied the NBA report for losing-streak futility — buying and selling any property for a 28-year-old, injury-prone quantity shooter simply would not make any sense.
It actually did not make any sense when taking a look at LaVine’s contract. He is within the second yr of a five-year deal that may see him make a median annual wage of $43M.
Sure, Detroit has the cap house, however the Pistons have little to no actual property. Spending arguably the one priceless asset not named Cade Cunningham they do have on a participant who has missed double-digit video games in three of the previous 4 seasons shouldn’t be the good approach to construct a staff.
That is an issue by itself as a result of Detroit common supervisor Troy Weaver has proven little or no potential to construct something that intently resembles a top quality NBA staff, however maybe LaVine, by making the choice to close it down, saved Weaver from himself.