Zach LaVine is doing everything right.
The Chicago Bulls guard is averaging 22.1 points and 4.2 assists this season. His usage rate is significantly down, but his efficiency (43.2% from 3-point range, 50.6% from the field) never has been higher.
And a reshaped outlook on his role with the Bulls has led to a happier and healthier approach to leadership — a key improvement as a young roster looks to LaVine to guide it through a rocky season.
But according to a report by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, that effort hasn’t translated into trade interest. In a segment on “The Hoop Collective” podcast, Windhorst said he has heard “nothing” from teams around the league about potentially trading for LaVine.
It’s not for a lack of interest on the Bulls end. Nothing has changed — the front office is willing to hear offers for essentially any player on the roster, particularly LaVine and center Nikola Vučević.
This landscape could change quickly. The Miami Heat, for instance, reportedly are beginning to entertain trade pitches from specific teams for Jimmy Butler. But the next eight weeks before the Feb. 6 trade deadline will fly by faster than expected.
It’s unclear what LaVine can do to drum up more interest. Take more shots? Pull out some vintage dunks? A tepid trade market is the opposite of what the Bulls hope to accomplish this season.
Lonzo Ball nearing a normal rotation
After spending 2½ seasons on the sidelines, Ball continues to ride a wave of progress. This week that included a loosening of his playing-time restriction to 20 minutes. The change came ahead of Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, in which Ball was able to participate in the closing rotation.
This is a significant step for Ball. Before his injuries, he averaged 32.5 minutes per game for his career. Only three Bulls — LaVine, Vučević and Coby White — are averaging more than 30 minutes this season.
The Bulls now can begin to factor Ball into closing rotations in the clutch, perhaps the most important implementation of his defense and playmaking.
There are plenty of hurdles left to clear. But at this rate, Ball is on track to return to a standard rotation for a bench player (27 to 29 minutes) well ahead of schedule.
No active Sky players selected in WNBA expansion draft
The Golden State Valkyries selected one player apiece from 11 of the 12 current WNBA franchises in Friday’s expansion draft. Each team was allowed to protect six players, so Chicago Sky stars such as Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese and veteran cornerstone Elizabeth Williams likely weren’t available.
The Valkyries did not select an active player from the Sky’s unprotected list, instead drafting María Conde. The Sky drafted the Spanish guard in the third round in 2019 after a two-year stint at Florida State, but she never reported to camp or played in the WNBA. Conde will not be compelled to sign with the Valkyries, but Golden State now possesses her rights.
The Valkyries’ other expansion draft selections included rotational players Temi Fagbenle (Indiana Fever), Kayla Thornton (New York Liberty) and Julie Vanloo (Washington Mystics) and fan favorite Kate Martin (Las Vegas Aces).
Ayo Dosunmu and Talen Horton-Tucker host students from alma maters
The Bulls have been rolling out holiday events throughout the community this month. On Tuesday, Ayo Dosunmu and Talen Horton-Tucker connected with students from their alma maters at the Advocate Center.
The pair hosted students from their elementary schools — Beasley for Dosunmu, St. Matthias for Horton-Tucker — for a 4-on-4 youth basketball tournament after Bulls practice. A group of 32 students came to the team’s training facilities to play against each other and learn from several Bulls players.
Both Illinois programs fall out of Top 25
After a brief tenure with both teams in the AP Top 25 last week, the Illinois men’s and women’s basketball teams fell out. There is no ranked team from the state on either the men’s or women’s side in Week 6 of NCAA play.
The Illini women’s downward slide came after an anticipated loss. Illinois could not keep up with Cotie McMahon in her return for No. 11 Ohio State on Sunday in Columbus, losing 83-74. Both of Illinois’ losses this season have come against ranked opponents — Ohio State and then-No. 16 Kentucky — after starting the season with a win over then-No. 19 Florida State.
Illinois received 69 votes in the poll, so a return could be imminent if it picks up a few more wins before the Big Ten opener against Oregon on Dec. 28.
The men’s team fell out after an upset loss to Northwestern, the third consecutive loss for the Illini at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Wildcats star Nick Martinelli dominated the matchup, scoring 27 points — including seven in overtime — in a tense finish.
With games this week against No. 20 Wisconsin and No. 1 Tennessee, Illinois will have to flip the script for an upset of its own to regain its place in the Top 25 by the end of the year.
Number of the week: 27
White is the Bulls’ most prolific 3-point shooter, averaging a team-high 8.9 attempts. But he has been suffering through a cold snap, shooting only 27% over his last four games. LaVine is making the same number of 3-pointers per game (3.3) despite averaging 1.2 fewer attempts.
White’s ascension as a leading scorer for the Bulls last season was predicated on his ability to squash out shooting slumps quicker than in his early seasons. It’s normal for a shooter to hit a skid — especially after missing a few games with a sprained ankle — but the Bulls offense would be hindered if White can’t regain his rhythm.
Week ahead: Bulls
- Friday: vs. Charlotte Hornets, 6:30 p.m. (CHSN)
- Monday: at Toronto Raptors, 6:30 p.m. (CHSN)
What we’re reading
- Could Nikola Vučević be an All-Star? First, the Bulls have to keep him at the heart of the offense.
- Bulls’ Billy Donovan is the last coach standing in Chicago professional sports after 14 months of firings
- Jewell Loyd, the WNBA All-Star from Niles West, reportedly requests a trade from the Seattle Storm
- Should the Chicago Sky re-sign Chennedy Carter in restricted free agency?
- Matas Buzelis riding the rookie learning curve with the Bulls: ‘He’s not afraid of failure’
- No. 21 Illinois women drop their Big Ten opener to No. 12 Ohio State — and Northwestern and DePaul also lose
Quotable
“It’s good. Can’t you tell?” — Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis answering questions about his nose, which was heavily bruised (but not broken) after an accidental elbow by LaVine in a win over the San Antonio Spurs
