For the past several years, it appears that Chicago Bulls star wing Zach LaVine has been the subject of trade rumors. It hasn’t stopped him from producing at a high level for an otherwise disappointing Bulls team.
With new rumors circulating about the Philadelphia 76ers’ interest in LaVine, the All-Star was recently asked about it. He was also quite direct in his response.
“I’ve previously been traded. Trades are a part of the game, and players are moved around every year. “I’ve been in trade talks for some reason since I’ve been here,” LaVine said, according to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.
The Bulls fell to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, dropping to 2-3 on the season. The team isn’t looking like a top contender in the east, and hasn’t since LaVine was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Jimmy Butler in 2017.
It had led to speculation that Artras Karniovas, the front office head, would blow things up this summer.
LaVine, for one, believes he has done his part from an individual standpoint.
“I feel like I’ve held up my end of the bargain in my commitment to the Bulls, but there’s not a lot you can do with rumors and people putting your name in trade talks,” the 28-year-old center said.
Rumors of a LaVine trade have resurfaced after the Philadelphia 76ers dealt James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster deal earlier this week.
The 76ers’ general manager, Daryl Morey, is expected to use these assets to target Lavine.
Chicago Bulls drama and struggles could lead to Zach LaVine trade
Following their season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bulls held a players-only meeting.
“Guys want to win. You put up a game like this in game 1, you’re going to have some conversations. Guys are frustrated and you should be. It’s a good thing, but sucks that it happened game 1. It happened, and we got to go from there.” Zach LaVine said after Bulls’ 20-point season-opening loss.
LaVine is currently playing under a five-year, $215.2 million contract with Chicago, which he signed in July of 2022. He’s signed through the 2025-26 season, with a player option for 2026-27.
Regardless, there has been speculation that Chicago may simply decide to blow this up. DeMar DeRozan, another wing, is set to become a free agent after this season and has been linked to a trade.
The 76ers will not be the only team interested in LaVine ahead of the NBA trade deadline. He’s simply too dynamic a player for such a small market (25.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 48% shooting since the start of the 2018-19 season).
The reported asking price for the wing and his bloated contract are at issue here. The Bulls are said to want a young player with upside as well as multiple first-round picks.
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