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Report names Zach LaVine on the list of high-priced stars who aren't living up to their contracts

Safe to say, the Bulls miscalculated on Zach LaVine’s contract.
Nick Raguz|
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There are numerous reasons why the Chicago Bulls were keen on trading away their most talented—albeit most expensive—player, Zach LaVine, this season. However, out of all the reasons, LaVine’s inability to translate his high-scoring ways to wins for the team has been the most concerning. 

It is for this reason that Bleacher Report has placed the two-time All-Star on its list of high-paid stars who have failed to meet expectations.

Four more years left

LaVine still has four years left on a contract that would pay him $178.1 million. That is a lot of money to invest in a player who has consistently put up great individual numbers but hasn’t been able to lead his team to success. 

The Bulls’ decision to sign LaVine to such a lucrative contract extension in 2022 was based on the belief that he would develop into a franchise player and elevate the team’s performance. However, with just one playoff appearance in seven seasons, the Bulls may have overvalued his potential.

“Look beyond his typically strong scoring numbers (which, by the way, weren't as potent this season before foot surgery cut his campaign short), and you'll struggle to see the substance beneath them. How much have his career 20.5 points and 3.9 assists per game actually helped when his team has fared better without him in eight of his 10 NBA seasons?” Zach Buckley wrote.

“The .082 win shares per 48 minutes he contributed this season ranks 191st among the 306 players who've logged 500-plus minutes. That sounds—and is—pretty abysmal for someone with such a hefty salary.”

No discernable impact on team success

For someone getting paid so much, you would expect their presence on the team to have a significant impact. However, that has rarely been the case. In fact, the Bulls did well when he was sidelined in December due to foot inflammation.

“He has never had a discernible impact on his team's success. Not in a positive way, at least. While others have contributed to this, the fact remains he has booked a single playoff trip—which lasted all of five games—during his first decade in the league. He isn't someone who elevates the players around him, and he can actually make things more difficult for them given his limitations as a defender and his bouts of tunnel vision,” Buckley shared.

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Nick Raguz
NICK RAGUZ

Nick's journey has been an exciting fusion of basketball and the written word. A former basketball player himself, he possesses an insatiable appetite for all things NBA-related, spanning from the captivating tales of old-school NBA to intriguing statistics and the latest updates from the association.

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