With Zach LaVine still available in the free agent market, should the Sacramento Kings be in pursuit to acquire him?
It has been a couple of days since NBA free agency started and the Sacramento Kings have yet to sign someone to their franchise. Although a lot of player activity has happened in free agency so far, there is still a ton of talent available. One of these talents is Zach LaVine.
This past season, LaVine played for the Chicago Bulls while coming back from ACL surgery. In my opinion, he had a solid year with the Bulls, but should he be a legit option for the Kings to go after?
Enjoy this slideshow which showcases three reasons why the Kings acquiring Zach LaVine makes sense for their squad.
Scoring Potential
Despite recently recovering from ACL surgery, LaVine is still a very good athlete. Because of his athleticism, he has the capability to drive to the basket and the run the floor well on offense.
With LaVine’s athleticism also comes a solid shooting stroke. Since coming to the NBA, LaVine has done a good job in developing a consistent jump shot, and as a result, he has a career three-point shooting percentage of over 37%.
In my opinion, LaVine’s ceiling to being an elite scorer is high. He can shoot the ball well and has the athleticism to have multiple go-to moves in his offensive arsenal. He just needs to keep on improving.
Defensive Potential
Like I mentioned, LaVine is a great athlete. He definitely has the physical tools to become a good defender in the league which would help the Kings’ defense immensely if he is able to reach his potential.
Not only do I think LaVine could be a good NBA defender, but a versatile one too. He is both athletic and long enough where I can foresee him holding his own against point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards if necessary.
In my opinion, great defenders need to have a good motor, athleticism, and high defensive instincts. So far, LaVine only has athleticism checked on the list. But the other two aspects are definitely within his control.
Part of the Movement
The Kings are currently rebuilding their franchise around their collection of young talent. With LaVine being just 23 years of age, he would definitely be part of Sacramento’s future if signed.
Although LaVine does not fit a need for the Kings in terms of personnel, he is a raw talent with a high ceiling. If he is able to reach even close to his potential, he could be one of the best players for Sacramento going forward.
Just think of it like the Boston Celtics. They have a logjam of players at the wing position and they have figured out a way to make it work.
Should The Kings Sign LaVine?
Three days have concluded in free agency so far, and the Kings have yet to acquire any players. The team did show interest in LaVine prior to free agency, so should Vlade Divac and company finally pull the trigger?
To me, it is all about price when trying to sign LaVine. Fifteen-million a year is a number that floats around when discussing LaVine’s next deal, and if that is the case, I would back off if I am Sacramento. Although LaVine is an exciting talent, he is not worth paying $15 million a season. In my opinion, a fair offer to LaVine would be a three-year contract worth around $30 million with a team option in his final year. If the Kings and LaVine can mutually agree on a similar deal, I think he could be a good risk to take.
I know signing LaVine would create a blockage at the two-guard position. But if he is able to make leaps of improvement, it is a good problem to have for Sacramento. Having a two-guard group of Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Zach LaVine has the potential to be scary. And if all are able to keep improving, they will be a burden for any opponent they face.
Kings fans. What are your thoughts about your team potentially signing Zach LaVine this summer? To express your opinions, feel free to comment on our website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.