The Bulls don’t appear to have made any progress on the Zach LaVine trade front, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (YouTube link). Chicago has made an effort this offseason to find a taker for LaVine, but hasn’t found many teams with interest — even if a draft pick is attached to the two-time All-Star.
“Literally, there is no market for Zach LaVine,” Marks said. “They are trying to give him away and attach a first-round pick. I’ve been told that by multiple people.”
LaVine’s maximum-salary contract looks especially onerous as teams grapple with the implications of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. He’s owed $43MM next season coming off foot surgery and has a guaranteed salary of $46MM in 2025/26, with a player option worth nearly $49MM for ’26/27.
Here are a few more trade rumors from across the league:
- Nets forward Cameron Johnson is generating trade interest from the Raptors and Kings, with the Pacers and Magic among the other teams to register exploratory interest, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Cavaliers have been mentioned as another possible suitor for Johnson, but “nothing has materialized on that front” yet, according to Scotto. Brookyn is believed to be open to inquiries to most of the veterans on its roster after having agreed to send Mikal Bridges to New York.
- The Kings are a team to keep an eye on as a possible suitor for Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, Scotto writes, confirming reporting from Jake Fischer. For now, Sacramento’s interest in Ingram has only been exploratory, Scotto notes.
- Teams talking to the Pacers have inquired about youngsters Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker, per Scotto. While there has been no indication that Indiana is looking to move either player, the team made the Eastern Conference finals without Mathurin available and has reached lucrative new free agent deals for two power forwards who are ahead of Walker on the depth chart (Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin), so it’s fair to wonder whether they’ll be available this summer.
- With the Magic considered a potential suitor for Isaiah Hartenstein, teams have expressed interest in trading for Orlando center Wendell Carter, according to Scotto, who says the Pelicans are among the clubs to inquire on Carter.
Lavine for Harrison Barnes, Lyles and a filler.
Why would Sacramento do that? They aren’t a tax team. Trading for Lavine is a terrible idea for any team not named the Pistons.
I mean, at this point just keep LaVine let him half a healthy season, and if he’s doing well trade him at the deadline.
Attaching a first round pick when you aren’t going to use the cap space anyways is just ignorant..Plus, the Bulls need their picks if they’re going to go through with the rebuild, and next year’s draft is supposedly going to he a really good one!!
Agreed. The Bulls would be stupid to send out picks, even with their desire to get rid of LaVine. Best course would be to try to rehab his value and move him later. It’s not like they’re ever going to pursue elite free agents with or without that deal on their books.
Agreed. Bulls should just hope that LaVine makes a strong recovery. Maybe the Bulls will end up being grateful that they didn’t trade LaVine. When healthy LaVine has been a great offensive player.
Agreed. If they’re not contending then cap room is irrelevant.
Make it a 2030 or farther down the road pick. He has to go. It’s been clear he’s either a bad teammate or a good teammate that’s bad for this team. It’s absolutely necessary that he’s moved before the season. Vuc also has to go but not as necessary. They can be a playoff team in 2026 if they reset the right way and catch a break or 2. Spend next season developing, keeping the 1st. Then armed with cap space make your move. But Lavine can’t be here anymore.
LaVine to Orlando will be great as long as Banchero, Wagner, or Suggs aren’t included in the trade it will be surreal.
Lavine like Trey Young are empty stat guys.
I don’t think he can stay healthy but if he did maybe they get something at the deadline.
Trae….
And Lavine has lower value, way lower. Trae at least made an ECF even if it was because of covid and Ben Simmons, it still happened.
Pacers would be dumb to move Mathurin.
Walker is toast he won’t develop as he is not a SF they brought Siakam and resigned Obi. The minutes are limited.
If DeM leaves. They will need LaVine. He can bounce back and will be easier to trade.
Still say Sixers are fools to sign PG.
Philly can sign DeM and Harris and Fultz.
Zach LaVine and 3 seconds for John Collins and Colin Sexton
George LaVine Williams Markeneen Kessler
Clarkson … Sensabaugh Hendricks Filipowski
Collier Lofton
LaVine would help Utah a lot.
Gives them a go to scorer, helps with their fooor spacing issues and they can afford to take him on over the 3 years with their young core.
Collins isn’t a long term piece with this being Lauri’s team and having guys like Hendricks sitting waiting. Same with Sexton, when you’ve got Keyonte and Collier with Clarkson the back up.
Probably get a defensive guard like Okogie and a veteran centre like Tristan Thompson and be set for next season.
As for Chicago, get off Zach and get some more moveable pieces. John Collins would be handy as a 4/5, athletic, can shoot and stuff. Sexton isn’t really needed with White, Giddey and Ayo ahead of him but easily flipped.
At this point the Bulls need to keep LaVine and hope he can improve his value during the year and try to move him to someone desperate come January/February.