The Chicago Bulls have begun showing some signs of life recently, climbing back into the NBA playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Since going on a four-game losing streak, they have won six out of nine games, pushing into 10th place in the conference.
While that is a far cry from the level that they expected to be, it is at least a step in the right direction. The next few weeks are going to be extremely important for the franchise as they could shape the road they go down for the next few years.
When healthy, ownership and the front office believe that they have one of the better rosters in the NBA. It would be hard to argue against that as Chicago was near the top of the standings during the 2021-22 season before injuries began negatively impacting the team.
The injury to starting point guard Lonzo Ball has been the most damaging, as they haven’t looked the same without their floor general. With his return up in the air, Chicago could opt to blow things up and go into a bit of a rebuild.
If that is the course they choose to take, Zach LaVine is a player that could be made available ahead of the trade deadline. LaVine signed a five-year, $215.2 million deal with the Bulls this past offseason and that is a deal that they could look to get out from under should they undergo a rebuild.
If LaVine is made available, expect there to be a strong market for him. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there are already four teams to keep an eye on.
“If the Chicago Bulls make Zach LaVine available before the trade deadline, rival executives are keeping an eye on several teams who could have interest in trading for him, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat
The New York Knicks are widely expected to be star chasing after falling short in their pursuit of Donovan Mitchell. However, given the current construction of the roster, LaVine’s fit in the lineup could be an awkward one.
The Los Angeles Lakers need to make a move of some sort as they are wasting another stellar season from LeBron James. LaVine would be a nice fit as a third star in their Big 3 alongside James and Anthony Davis.
The Dallas Mavericks are desperate to find a running mate for Luka Doncic. LaVine would provide a lot of what the team lacks as a secondary playmaker, ball-handler, and go-to option offensively. However, the assets they have to build a trade package with still need to be included.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat
The same could be said about the Miami Heat, who are lacking draft capital and tradeable contracts. Unless Miami is willing to include someone such as Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, which would be counterproductive for them, landing LaVine may be considered a pipe dream.
