SEARCH FOR A SECOND STAR
Next time he’s selected, LaVine sure could use some Bulls company
Having family and loved ones with him on a private jet to and from Atlanta for Sunday’s All-Star extravaganza was a memory that Bulls guard Zach LaVine won’t soon forget.
But after his first appearance in the All-Star Game in his seventh NBA season, there’s something else that sticks with him: There was still room on that plane.
More than a few All-Star players had one of their regular teammates there with them this year, and that resonated with LaVine.
“There’s multiple guys in this on the same team,” he said. “So I think it just shows that if you’re in the right, winning mindset and guys on the team are playing the right way, you can definitely have fun with multiple teammates in the All-Star
Game. I think that’s something you can take away, back to your teammates: ‘Let’s get a couple of guys in here next time.’ ”
The Bulls’ front office would love that. Given the financial impact of the coronavirus and sanctions on the NBA from China, it’s unclear just how much the salary cap will hurt over the next two years. But it’s less of a guess that NBA teams are shifting more toward a “big two” player model than a “big three” to chase the championship. The Nets are a notable exception, but the Celtics, Clippers, Lakers and 76ers are all leaning more on two stars with some key role players around them.
For teams like the Bulls, two AllStars would be evidence they can compete. And two stars is much more doable than what the Celtics did years ago with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen and what the Heat created with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
So what’s the likelihood of LaVine having a Bulls travel partner for next year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland? Slim — at least as the roster is currently constructed. But here are the most logical options, in reverse order: