LaVine seems to be leaving Chicago, but Los Angeles should be pursuing other important Bulls players.
In the NBA, trade season always occurs.
Bulls guard Zach Lavine, who is reportedly open to a trade away from Chicago, is the most recent star to appear on the transfer portal. Following their lackluster 4–7 start, the team is reportedly open to offers.
LaVine, who will turn 29 in March, has started the season averaging 21.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Despite his slight decline in efficiency, he is still a skilled scorer. There are three more years left on his deal, which pays him over $40 million annually.
I’m not sure if LaVine’s market is as strong as it would have been even two weeks ago after looking through the list of teams. Let’s go over some possibilities.
The Sixers? It is not wise for Philly to rush into dismantling what is perhaps the best team in the league. Without another backcourt partner to steal rebounds, Tyrese Maxey is thriving. Joel Embiid appears to be in the best mood he’s been in a long time. In their supporting roles, the veterans that were acquired in the trade for James Harden are doing a great job. LaVine would be a risky addition, and would the fourth-best NBA offense really need his scoring punch? Furthermore, LaVine’s contract would take up valuable cap space for Philly the following summer, when O.G. Anunoby or perhaps even one of the Clippers’ stars (non-Harden division) might be available.
The Warriors, what say you? Golden State has recently had difficulties. Stephen Curry is the only player who can score. LaVine might make sense in this situation, but would the Dubs give up on anyone? As a backup, Chris Paul has been useful in supporting bench groups that have long been problematic. Furthermore, LaVine would need more than just his contract. Would Golden State, despite Andrew Wiggins’s current setbacks, really drop him? His removal would eliminate the team’s best perimeter defensive option. No matter how difficult things get, I just don’t see the Dubs severing their relationship in the middle of the season, even though a Klay Thompson trade would work.
What Heat? Miami’s halfcourt offense is in dire need of improvement. However, Tyler Herro is much less expensive and produces at least as much, if not more, than LaVine did prior to his ankle injury. Both Duncan Robinson and Kyle Lowry are having excellent starts to their careers. Robinson is currently playing the best basketball of his life. The second apron of it all comes next. The Heat appear determined to stay out of that zone. Perhaps it would make more sense if Miami could re-sign Alex Caruso, but this would be a significant shakeup for a team that has won six straight, values defense, and has a precarious cap situation.
And that gets me to the Lakers. When LeBron James sits, Los Angeles’ offense, which is currently in the bottom half of the league, is run off the court. LaVine would fit in here, and his struggles on defense should be lessened by playing in front of James and Anthony Davis. The question is, should the Lakers try to hold out for DeMar DeRozan if the Bulls are going to blow it out? The Lakers might even attempt to acquire both DeRozan and Caruso in a trade, as their combined salary is lower than that of LaVine.
The salaries in Los Angeles are commensurate. Does it have draft capital, though? Because of how cheap his contract is through the following year, Caruso might be able to command two first-round picks on his own. It’s where the intricacy of this plan lies. Even so, DeRozan’s veteran sense is probably a better fit for the team than LaVine’s, and both parties could decide in the summer whether they wanted to keep working together. This is even if the Lakers can only afford to trade for him.
The bottom line is that the Lakers probably make more sense as a DeMar destination than a LaVine one if Chicago decides to become a seller, and if LaVine is gone, it would make sense for at least DeRozan to follow. Since many apparent landing spots have more nuance underneath the surface, I’m not sure how strong the LaVine market will be in the near future.