The Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs shocked the NBA world for a second time on Feb. 2.
After the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most significant and shocking trades in league history earlier in the day by swapping Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, the Kings sent De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs while Zach LaVine went from the Bulls to Sacramento.
For its part, Chicago landed Kevin Huerter from the Kings, Tre Jones and Zach Collins from the Spurs and perhaps the most valuable piece of the deal from the Bulls perspective, their own 2025 first-round pick that was owed to San Antonio.
Trading LaVine was on Chicago’s to-do list for more than a year. Now that the once seemingly impossible move has come to fruition, though, the Bulls have a massive hole in their starting lineup.
Here’s a prognostication of who might take LaVine’s spot as the fifth starter and how Head Coach Billy Donovan could adjust his rotation without his leading scorer.
Bulls projected starters, rotation following massive Zach LaVine trade
After playing in only 25 games last season, LaVine has started 42 of Chicago’s 50 games in 2024-25. He’s having a resurgent season statistically as well and was arguably an Eastern Conference All-Star snub.
The 29-year-old was averaging a team-high 24.0 points and was doing so on 51/45/80 shooting splits, making it the most efficient season of his 10-year career. He was also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists for good measure and led the team in minutes per game (34.1) and was second in total minutes played (1,432).
The Bulls’ new top scorer—for now—is center Nikola Vucevic, who’s putting up 19.9 points per game. Like LaVine, he’s having the most efficient offensive season of his career.
As long as Vucevic is in Chicago, he’ll be a guaranteed starter. The question now is who fills LaVine’s spot in the backcourt/on the wing, which member of the bench squad steps up to fill those minutes and where do the new guys fit in?
Bulls projected new starting lineup:
- PG: Josh Giddey
- SG: Coby White
- SF: Ayo Dosunmu
- PF: Patrick Williams
- C: Nikola Vucevic
Realistically, there are no “positions” in this backcourt. LaVine was the default wing player in the starting lineup, but Dosunmu and White can be interchangeable. Donovan still has three capable ball handlers in his starting five.
Williams, for better or for worse, will likely remain the Bulls’ starting power forward, although he’s played fewer minutes over the last handful of games in favor of rookie Matas Buzelis. He’s been more productive in that role, and that plan could continue.
Bulls projected new bench rotation
- PG: Lonzo Ball/Tre Jones
- SG: Huerter/White/Dosunmu
- SF: Julian Phillips
- PF: Matas Buzelis
- C: Jalen Smith
Ball has been one of Chicago’s steadiest and most important players this season, but there’s a chance he joins LaVine and potentially Vucevic as trade deadline casualties. Reports have already surfaced that the Bulls want to flip Jones and Huerter, so they could quickly exit this potential rotation as well.
Some combination of the Bulls’ starting backcourt will remain on the floor should Huerter leave, but White and Dosunmu could rotate in that spot depending on matchups and Donovan’s preference.
Buzelis has averaged 23.3 minutes over Chicago’s last four games. Not coincidentally, he’s also averaging 11.3 points and 4.5 rebounds and has shot 60.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three on 3.5 attempts per game over that span. The rookie has been more aggressive, efficient, smarter and better defensively.
Smith has been a mainstay as Vucevic’s backup all season and one of Chicago’s most underrated players. He deserves to replace Vucevic if the 34-year-old is indeed traded before the Feb. 6 deadline.
The Bulls have a lot to replace with LaVine now joining former Bulls teammate DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento. Who fills those minutes, usage rate and production could give fans a valuable glimpse into what the future holds for the franchise.
