This offseason, there were rumors of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach Lavine being a trade chip. New Head Coach Tom Thibodeau was not willing to part with the young guard, and now we are seeing why.

Back in 2013, when the Minnesota Timberwolves used their first round pick on Zach Lavine, most fans were wondering who he was. I will even admit, I went straight to Youtube to see videos of the UCLA guard, not seeing him play prior to that.

Coming in known as a dunker and athletic freak, there was not a lot known of what we could expect from him. We knew he could jump out of the gym, as he had the highest vertical in his draft class.

There had been times we had seen flashes of great play, but there was one big question. Could Lavine grow into a playmaker and not just an athlete? This year he has shown us what we all thought he could be after last year’s All Star Break.

Starting the season off with a slash line of .466/.489/.862, Lavine has shown that he is looking like a player that has as high of a ceiling as his number one pick counterparts.

Right now Lavine is 4th in the NBA in three point field goal percentage(Andrew Wiggins is first). Being on a team in which he does not have to be the first scoring option, Lavine has been thriving.

This offseason, after the hiring of ex Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, the rumor mill was flooded with Jimmy Butler trade rumors. The rumors were not far fetched, as on draft night there was discussion between the two teams trying to make a deal.

The Bulls were supposedly asking for the number 5 pick, Kris Dunn, and Zach Lavine. Thibodeau countered offering Dunn and Rubio. Lavine seemed to be the deal breaker for him.

Some were enticed by the idea of a veteran guard like Butler joining the young Timberwolves squad, but Thibodeau saw the potential Lavine held from day one on the job.

Looking back, Lavine looks like a player that will grow into a great piece for this young team. Not to mention he fits directly on the correct timeline with the team’s other young stars.

The strides we have seen Lavine take over the last three seasons show what the late Flip Saunders saw in him on draft night. #ForFlip