NBA teams are probing the availability of two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine, and there’s been increased openness from the Chicago Bulls and LaVine about exploring a trade, league sources said. Here’s what you need to know:
- Many of the NBA’s 30 general managers are in Chicago on Tuesday for the annual Champions Classic, the major opening night of the college basketball season, and this is where conversations could begin. The Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are expected to have a level of interest, league sources said.
- LaVine, 28, is in his seventh season in Chicago. He’s averaging 21.9 points, 3.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds while starting all 11 games this season.
- The 6-foot-5 guard is in the second season of a five-year, $215 million maximum contract.
- Chicago fell to 4-7 after a 118-109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday and will host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Backstory
After Chicago’s 124-104 season-opening loss to Oklahoma City, some players, led by veteran Nikola Vučević, expressed frustration with the Bulls’ offense, which they felt was similar to last season’s after being under the impression things would be different, league sources said.
Off the court, league sources said the Bulls, which are largely running things back with its core from last season, would like to bring back DeMar DeRozan, who is on an expiring deal. But his future in Chicago is uncertain as well. The Bulls and DeRozan have discussed an extension, but the sides remain apart on years and salary, and the 34-year-old DeRozan wants to see where the team goes before committing to a return.
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How LaVine and Bulls got here
LaVine has been the one constant for the Bulls since he arrived from Minnesota as part of the Jimmy Butler trade in 2017. That makes him the face of the franchise’s futile efforts to build a winning team. Since the 2017-18 season, the Bulls are 192-284. They’ve made the postseason only once, losing in five games in the 2022 first round. Chicago has had three coaches and two management regimes over that span.
LaVine signed a five-year, $215-million maximum contract before the 2022-23 season. But the Bulls missed the playoffs last season, and a 4-7 start this season has accelerated the timeline for LaVine and the Bulls to consider other options. — Darnell Mayberry, senior Bulls writer
What a LaVine trade would mean
The Bulls have relied on LaVine’s scoring for the past six seasons. Without him, they’ll lose one of the game’s best isolation scorers and perimeter shooters. But it would offer the Bulls the opportunity to reimagine their offense. Instead of LaVine as the offensive focal point, the Bulls might be able to institute an egalitarian system that keeps all five players as threats. It would make the Bulls more difficult to defend. — Mayberry
Required reading
- Zach LaVine’s career goals are obtainable for Bulls, but how much does he want it?
- Should Bulls trade Alex Caruso while they can? Or should Chicago keep him?
(Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today)