Zach LaVine becomes trade-eligible today, and it appears the Bulls have begun work on the project early. According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, Chicago has already reached out to at least one potential trade partner and has made their desired deal for LaVine known to the league. The Bulls have set a high price for a multi-time All-Star, but with his exorbitant contract, injury issues, and a poor start to 2023, the market has been slow to fulfill their demands. Who did Chicago contact, and when can they expect a deal?
LaVine For Garland Swap
Inside the Chicago Bulls building, Arturas Karnisovas and crew made an audacious phone call. Darius Garland, a 23-year-old guard who has appeared in an All-Star game and averaged more than 21 points and 7.5 assists per game in each of his last two seasons, is a rising star in the NBA. It would be highway robbery for the Bulls to get him in exchange for the aging and less versatile Zach LaVine.
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The Chicago Bulls reportedly tried trading Zach LaVine for Darius Garland, per @JakeLFischer
“Chicago has also attempted swapping LaVine for other All-Star players, such as pitching Cleveland on the concept of acquiring Darius Garland from the Cavaliers, sources said.”
(Via… pic.twitter.com/pd8iS8WIVp
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 15, 2023
Garland has averaging 25 points and five assists in four games this season without Donovan Mitchell. He’s also a threat from three-point range, shooting 41% last season and nearly 40% in his young career. His career path parallels that of Coby White, both of whom are in their 23rd seasons and have emerged as some of the league’s finest young three-point shooting guards. A combination of the two would surely provide Chicago with one of the best young backcourts in years to come.
Chicago’s Price Tag On LaVine
In his report, Fischer also claims that the Bulls have made their stance on LaVine obvious to opposing teams. They’ll be looking for “an established starter, plus a young player with upside and then first-round draft capital, according to league sources.” A deal for Garland would almost certainly be an even trade or Garland plus salary cap fillers, but it was still a tall ambition for the Bulls’ front staff.
Zach LaVine has been in trade talks for a while now.
Would you want LaVine on your team? https://t.co/qCyHh8ptNZ pic.twitter.com/6vWrpn60QF
— Settle the Debate! (@Settle__Debate) December 15, 2023
Chicago’s greatest trade-talk tactic is to target teams in need of a rebuild for the 2023 season. The Detroit Pistons have two victories on the season, have lost 21 games in a row, and could use a shakeup. Golden State is on the outside looking in with a recently benched Andrew Wiggings, an unhappy Klay Thompson, and an aging squad that might use a boost.
Memphis has the NBA’s fourth-worst record despite making the playoffs the previous three seasons. They could be seeking for a new member to spice up their season.
"We cannot waste Steph Curry's valuable time while he's still here." @kendrickperkins wants Steph to be freed from Golden State 😳 pic.twitter.com/dMNqzvk9Pr
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 13, 2023
Now 5-2 without Zach LaVine and with the second-best record in the league, has Chicago been persuaded to part ways with their two-time All-Star and find some fresh support for rising star Coby White? A trade can be completed today for LaVine, and many more trade partners will be accessible in 30 days. Expect the market to heat up as teams look to revive their 2023 campaign and Chicago tries to extract any residual value from its longest-tenured Chicago Bull.
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