The Chicago Bulls began the reconstruction of their roster last season at the tradeline. They traded for then Orlando Magic All-Star, Nikola Vucevic. It was a match that seemed perfect considering their star, Zach LaVine, was in desperate need of a co-star. However, it was too little too late as they still missed the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference.
Their off-season was spectacular though as they added another veteran All-Star in DeMar DeRozan and also bolstered their perimeter defense by signing Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. The Bulls are now a dark-horse favorite in the East, but an interesting question has arisen with this new-look Chicago squad. Who is the third-wheel behind the DeRozan and LaVine? Has Lonzo Ball actually started living up to the sky-high expectations placed on him? Or is Nikola Vucevic still being severely underappreciated like he was in Orlando? Without further adieu, let’s go more in-depth with this question.
Chicago Bulls: Who is the Third Option?
The Case for Ball
Lonzo Ball has altered his game for the better since he came to the league. Things clearly did not work out in Los Angeles and for whatever reason, New Orleans just did not click with him. In Chicago, he seems to have found a team where he can truly thrive and still play to his strengths. He is a stingy perimeter defender who is not afraid to guard the team’s best player. He has only allowed six players to score double figures when guarded by him this season and a couple of those players include MVP favorites Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
This is all well and good, but looking at the other numbers, they are extremely pedestrian and do not exactly scream out “All-Star.” He is averaging 12.3 points per game (PPG), 5.2 rebounds per game (RPG), and 4.9 assists per game (APG). These numbers are not bad by any means. He is shooting above 40 percent from the three-point territory which showcases how much he has improved since his earlier days. However, it does not warrant being called a part of a “big three,” if we are being honest. Looking past the basic stats, Ball is still somewhat inconsistent. He may have a game where flirts with a triple-double here and there, but then he will also have games like the game against New York where he was a -9 in the differential department while shooting only 21 percent from the floor.
The Case for Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic is not without flaws. He is a two-time All-Star but he is not exactly as impactful as Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid. Thus, why he is often considered the third wheel of the Bulls’ big three behind DeRozan and LaVine. However, that does not seem to bother Vucevic. As a matter of fact, he seems to be thriving in his new role. His defense leaves something to be desired with a defensive rating of 105 for his career. However, he is still a star for a reason.
This season, despite missing some time due to injury, Vucevic is still averaging totals of 15.3 PPG, 4.1 APG, and 10.9 RPG while shooting 43.1 percent from the field. The field goal percentage could be better, but for now, it doesn’t seem to be affecting Chicago too drastically. For context, these numbers are similar to another star third wheel who won a title with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving back in the 2016 season, Kevin Love.
Verdict
As much of a feel-good story Lonzo Ball’s turnaround is, the third option for the Chicago Bulls is Nikola Vucevic. Ball may be the better defender, but Vucevic is much more consistent and is still liable to put up a superstar stat-line on any given night. See the victory against the Knicks where the Bulls’ big three balled out as Vuc tallied 27 points, seven rebounds, and also made five three-point shots. All in all, the Chicago Bulls’ star trio is Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic being the solid third wheel.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images