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A re-draft of the 2014 NBA Draft places Zach LaVine in the top five
Picking players in the NBA Draft is always a tricky exercise. Regardless of how thorough the scouting is, predicting which players will have successful NBA careers can be a challenge. That's why it's always interesting to look back and re-draft past classes with the benefit of hindsight.
In 2014, the draft class was headlined by players such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid—but one name that flew under the radar was current Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine. Originally picked 13th by the Minnesota Timberwolves, LaVine would likely be selected in the top five if teams got a do-over.
Re-drafting the Class of 2014
In a re-draft done by Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report, he placed the explosive wingman as the fifth pick, right behind Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, and Julius Randle. While LaVine's accomplishments have largely gone under the radar because of his lack of playoff success, the former UCLA star has developed into one of the most lethal scorers in the entire league.
"It's gone somewhat under the radar because the Chicago Bulls have only made one playoff appearance during this stretch, but Zach LaVine has become one of the best scorers in the world," wrote Bailey.
Over the past five seasons, LaVine has averaged 25.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
"There are only six players in the NBA who match or exceed both marks during the same stretch," Bailey added.
Uncertain future
While he has become the Bulls' most talented—and most expensive–player, his future with the team remains uncertain, as the team has made the NBA Playoffs just once during his time there. Even with DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic by his side, the Bulls again failed to make it to the postseason, falling to the Miami Heat in the play-ins.
