Bulls' star duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine land in the top 50 of CBS' top-100 list

Chicago Bulls one-two punch gets acknowledged by CBS

If anyone thought the Chicago Bulls lacked firepower this upcoming season, they only need to look as far as CBS Sports' top-100 player rankings for the 2023-2024 NBA campaign. Chicago's dynamic duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine landed in spots 44 and 43, respectively, on the list. 

The two players’ abilities to score buckets and register star-level stat lines were never in question. However, their impact on the Bulls’ success has been a bit uncertain, as Chicago finished last season under .500 at 40-42.

Motivated

Now playing in the final year of his three-year deal with the Bulls, Deebo must be motivated to prove himself worthy of a new contract. Entering his 15th year in the league, the midrange master is showing no signs of slowing down, even expanding his skill set to become an above-average playmaker. Whether his next contract comes from Chicago or a new team, Derozan looks ready to make the most of this season and show that he can be a difference-maker.

“After heroic efforts for most of the Bulls' 2021-22 season, DeRozan cooled off just a bit last year. His numbers were still solid, shooting over 50% from the floor for the second consecutive year, enough to earn him an All-Star spot,” Jasmine Wimbish of CBS Sports wrote.

“As he enters the final year of his deal before becoming a free agent, DeRozan could be playing with some extra motivation to secure another long-term deal, either in Chicago or elsewhere.”

Underrated wingman

Despite his stats, LaVine remains one of the more underrated players in the league. However, this is not just his fault, as the lack of team success probably has a lot to do with it as well. Still, LaVine remains one of the most dangerous guards in the Association, capable of filling it up from all over the court.

“Though the Bulls took a step back as a team last year, LaVine's production didn't fall off. He's still severely underrated as one of only nine players last season to average at least 24 points per game while shooting at least 48% from the field and 37% from 3-point range,” Wimbish wrote.

“He's one of the smoothest shooters in the NBA, capable of making you pay from deep, or driving right past you for an easy finish at the basket. And his mid-range game is just as dangerous. You could argue that he's a little low on this list, but perhaps that's a product of a lack of team success more than anything. However, when you put LaVine's individual offensive numbers up against some of the best guards in the league, he should be in that conversation.”