[True_JafiParticipant]

 This will be there year Zach Lavine proves that he is just as good as Devin Booker. He was a bit delayed because the Timberwolves tried to make him a point guard and then the injury. But this will be his first full season that he is healthy and playing the 2. He is only one year older than Booker, so all that Booker is so young applies for Lavine too. He is a smooth effortless scorer. Can shoot it, take you off the dribble, post little guards and has bounce! 

[timinator1Participant]

 He’s probably got better hops than Booker, but hes not nearly the shooter or the ballhandler. Still a good player, but Booker is better.

[sweaterflexParticipant]

Booker is a better passer and decision maker but the perceived gap may largely have to do with opportunity. If Lavine had been the first option on a garbage team (as opposed to the 2nd/3rd) he very well could have put up similar numbers. They’re both really bad on defense as well, but you can give Booker more leeway due to the heavier offensive burden. I think Lavine can give you 90-95% of what Booker gives you for a lot cheaper. 

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

 Neither player has proven to be a winning player yet, so which player is better is still an argument that is hard to settle. Both are good young players that can score of the ball but need to tighten up their defense and learn to win games.

[dmo21Participant]

 I’m not a big fan of "he’s not a winner" argument. This is a team sport and 1 player can do only so much to help a team out. How many players in the league could take Chicago or Phoenix to the playoffs with the rosters they have minus LaVine/Booker? LeBron? I think that’s about it. Lots of star players have trouble getting wins due to their teammates in the past. Did Love all of a sudden become a "winner" after he got traded to Cleveland? He was still the same guy, he just happened to play with LeBron after. In short, to base judgement off a player if his team wins or not is just short sited in my mind. 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Both can score,do it in a hurry and shoot from range at a reasonable clip..

There are not many differences personally except Booker has better handles and Lavine has way more hops and is on a cheaper deal…

Who to build around would be subjective to playstyle. Lavine if you want uptempo and Booker if you want to finesse and half court them for Example Lavine could work well in OKC and Booker could work well in GSW…

But as mentioned by Purple M neither have won anything or even made the playoffs so until one of them helps carry their team to the playoffs they are much of a muchness really..

 

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Literally Everything else that happens on a Basketball court 

I go with Booker 1000% of the time

 

 

[mowestenParticipant]

Booker is averaging 19.9 points for his career. Lavine is averaging 14.6 points for his career. That’s a pretty significant difference.

Not to mention, uh … Booker is two years younger.

 

[True_JafiParticipant]

 Like I sadi in the orginal thread his pounts per game will look down because the Timberwolves had him playing point guard his first 2 years. This is his first season where he is fully healthy and strictly at the 2 position. Look at what he has done so far this season. Its early but averaging 32 points per game while shooting 61% from the field. Now thats a high clip and I dont expect to stay this hot but he will average 26 ppg this year and shoot around 50 Percent.  

Also Booker was born on 10/30/96 and Lavine 3/10/95. Booker turns 22 in a few day. Zach is 23. One year older

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Neither played for an above .500 team.

[True_JafiParticipant]

 Totally agreed. I’m not saying they are the best in the league. They both have to prove they can do it on a winning team. Im just stating that Lavine is just as good as Booker or not that far behind as everyone thinks it is

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

With Kris Dunn out for 4-6 weeks, Markkanen on more or less the same time table, and Valentine’s ankle injury seemingly more serious than expected, LaVine may very well lead the league in scoring on a team that won’t have a win by Thanksgiving. They were already terrible defensively, but their point play, and overall ball movement, without Dunn is equally atrocious. LaVine is undeniably a gifted scorer, but if he has the ball he is looking to shoot. The same goes for Jabari Parker. While they are both good one-on-one scorers, neither is good enough for their one-on-one play to yield a good overall offense absent a functioning offense around them. Cam Payne is terrible. Ryan Arcidiacano is good enough to be a career backup, but probably not anything more. Tyler Ulis may very well worthy of a look, but he was given up by the Suns, has yet to show NBA range on his shot, and will always be a defensive liability at 5’9." Without trying to do so, they are already in lottery ball positioning. The worst part is that the situation is terrible for Carter’s development. An offense with no ball movement leaves him out of the loop on offense, and bad individual defenders are leaving him out on an island defensively. The only positive to what will inevitably be Zach LaVine empty calorie breakout year is that he was already paid.

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