The Bulls are testing the market to see if there’s any interest for teams to acquire shooting guard Zach LaVine, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
“Wishful executives will keep their eyes peeled on Portland and Damian Lillard, but it’s the Chicago Bulls who have started contacting teams, quietly gauging the trade interest in Zach LaVine, league sources told Yahoo Sports,” Fischer wrote. “It remains to be seen just how willing Chicago is to part ways with LaVine, or if it receives a commensurate offer for his services. LaVine has four seasons remaining on his five-year, $215 million contract, and multiple teams have indicated the Bulls are holding a steep valuation for LaVine — one that’s likely to exceed what Washington can ultimately net for Beal.”
Given how large his contract extension was, the Bulls clearly value the guard and see his long-term potential.
But his contract takes up a large chunk of the salary cap and their postseason runs in the last eight seasons with LaVine in the team haven’t been too successful.
Minnesota big man Karl-Anthony Towns, for one, is a big fan of LaVine’s work.
“He’s one of the best scorers I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’m a scorer,” Towns said on the Pat Bev Podcast with Rone this week. “I’m a scorer and I’ve never seen some of the s*** that he do. And he got no feelings for pressure or nothing. It’s just straight bucket work…His three ball’s so pure. He worked so hard on his game.”
Many have said that the Bulls should blow it up but with stars like DeMar DeRozan in the squad, it’s hard to know what their next move will be.
Teams like the Heat and Knicks as well as Dallas showed interest for LaVine around the February trade deadline of this year, so it seems there is certainly a market for him.
Only time will tell if Chicago decide to move the 28-year-old on.
In 77 games during the regular 2022-23 season, LaVine totalled 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 48.5 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent shooting from three.
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