NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2020-21

28. Zach LaVine, G, Chicago Bulls

After their run with the “Three Alphas,” the Chicago Bulls accepted their rebuild and moved on from all three of Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. Over the past few years, they have added a number of lottery picks, including the classic epitome of a scoring guard in Zach LaVine. The former UCLA Bruin has proven himself able to create his own shot efficiently at high volume, still one of the league’s most difficult and valuable traits.

The problem for LaVine is that he has added little else to his game. Despite a sky-high usage rate of 31.7 percent, ninth in the league, he averaged just 4.2 assists per game. Defensively he is unable to stay in front of players or navigate screens even when he is trying. He is a clear floor-raiser who may not scale into a contending situation. Luckily, or unluckily for the Bulls, they are not looking like contenders anytime soon.

In the Mix: Coby White had a white-hot finish to last season before the hiatus, and could grow into a smaller version of LaVine but with more playmaking. Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen are former 7th-overall picks who have upside, and Carter in particular could break free in a new system to be an impact player. Rookie Patrick Williams, selected at fourth overall, is the highest selection of this recent Bulls era and packs plenty of potential. Finally, last year’s pick was Otto Porter Jr., a completely fine and complementary veteran option but one unlikely to see any growth this season.