The Chicago Bulls seeking trade interest in Zach LaVine across the NBA was one of the off season’s lingering stories. Nothing has come to fruition as of yet. The former two-time All-Star is expected to be a focal point for a Bulls club hoping for more than a Play-In Tournament berth this season.
They made touch with several organizations, however, and one of them, the Brooklyn Nets, may be ready to try again.
“If the Nets want to make something out of Mikal Bridges‘ prime, they have to give their rising star more scoring support,” wrote Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report on October 19. “That’s why Brooklyn could consider throwing caution to the wind with a blockbuster deal for LaVine.”
Buckley suggests swapping LaVine for a familiar face.
Bulls get:
– Spencer Dinwiddie
– Dorian Finney-Smith
– Cam Thomas
– 2027 first-round pick (top-8 protected, via PHI)
Nets get:
– Zach LaVine
Last season, LaVine, 28, averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
He is in year two of a five-year, $215 million contract. However, trade whispers began to circulate around him last summer, though only as a potential sign-and-trade possibility.
“He isn’t a perfect player—which, combined with his colossal contract, is the reason he’d only cost a single first-round pick,” Buckley continued. “But he is about as electric as it gets on the offensive end.”
In addition to the Nets, Chicago has contacted the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers about a possible deal. However, LaVine’s hefty salary and history of knee injuries are not the only concerns. The Bulls have also maintained their asking price, which has been described as “giant” and is the primary reason the guard has not been dealt.
Dinwiddie, 30, played in the G League with the Windy City Bulls in 2016-17. However, he was fired twice by Chicago.
Last season, Dinwiddie averaged 17.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. He split the season between the Brooklyn Nets and the Dallas Mavericks.
He is nearing the end of a three-year, $54 million contract.
Last season, Finney-Smith, 30, averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while splitting time with the Mavericks and Nets as Dinwiddie’s teammate. He is in the second year of a four-year, $55.6 million contract that includes a $15.4 million player option for the final year.
In 2021, Thomas, 22, was the No. 27 overall pick. Last season, he stunned the NBA world by becoming the league’s youngest player to record three straight games with at least 40 points. Last season, he averaged 10.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists despite battling to find a spot in head coach Jacque Vaughn’s rotations.
Bulls’ Asking Price Could Reflect True Intentions
“One league source said the Bulls would be focused on getting a good young player, multiple first-round picks, and salary filler if they decide to trade LaVine,” K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago Bulls said on June 19. “Another said one first-round pick and an established, high-end player might be sufficiently intriguing.”
The Bulls’ refusal to accept this speculated sum indicates that they may be willing to part ways with LaVine. But not at the expense of simply giving him away to get out of the contract. And, despite re-signing Nikola Vucevic this offseason, the Bulls remain committed to their core bunch.
LaVine also fits the Bulls’ intended style of play better than Vucevic or DeMar DeRozan, according to executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas.
He only needs the outcomes to reflect this.
Zach LaVine on Bulls’ Core: ‘It’s Time’
This season, the Bulls’ big three played more minutes together than any other group in the league.
However, according to NBA.com, their net rating was barely below average at minus-0.4.
“For how explosive we are individually, it hasn’t been shown as a unit,” LaVine stated via the team on October 2 during media day. “So we need to do a better job with that, and it’s been three years.” It’s time to put pen to paper and see what happens.”
Bulls are doing a good job getting into the initial action, but still a lot of standing around and watching once the ball gets into whoever is supposed to go to work
Good example is these Vooch post ups. 4 guys standing on the perimeter watching pic.twitter.com/CqTg8HHCHK
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) October 13, 2023
Similar sentiments have been stated by Vucevic. He stated that if they are unable to put together a stronger campaign, this could be their final year together.
DeRozan has stated that the chance to win will influence his contract decision. Changes may be on the horizon, even if none of the principles are now planning for them.
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