If you’ve got a New York Knicks fan in your life, feel good for them. Few NBA fanbases have waited as long for their moment. Finally, the Knicks have arrived. After years of mediocrity, this is a competitive NBA team.
We can’t say the same for the Chicago Bulls. At the same time, their fans are only deserving of sympathy if they’re on the younger side. Those who were old enough to have enjoyed Michael Jordan do not deserve your tears. Almost no team enjoys that type of run – ever.
With that said younger Bulls fans haven’t been treated to much of a product in quite some time. This year was no exception. The Bulls woefully underperformed in 2022-23. Perhaps that’s why plenty of fans are hoping they’ll make major changes soon. Could they start by sending Zach LaVine to the Knicks?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: G/F RJ Barrett, C Isaiah Hartenstein, G Immanuel Quickley, 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: G/F Zach LaVine
With that said, fans of any NBA franchise need to control their expectations. Titles are seldom won. Often, a team or two controls an entire decade of NBA basketball. If you live to see your team hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy even once, consider yourself lucky.
If you’re a Knicks fan, you relate. If you’ve seen them win a title, you’re on the older side of our demographic. After all, it hasn’t happened since the 1970s. This is the biggest market in the NBA. How have the Knicks failed to exploit that advantage?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
Mostly, they’ve been poorly managed. Luckily, the Knicks seem to be rounding into form of late. A new management group has been helpful. Should they cash their chips in on LaVIne?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
Having just won a playoff series, the Knicks should be in win-now mode. Yes, this deal is a blow to their future. That’s irrelevant – the future is now. The only question is whether adding LaVine at this cost makes them a better team.
We think it does. Barrett is expendable if they’re adding LaVine. He’s a combo 2/3, but LaVine will be holding down the 2 spot on a full-time basis. Meanwhile, Josh Hart is a more appropriate role player to pair with the Knicks’ playmakers. Meanwhile, Quickly is easier to part with if they’re adding LaVine as well, and Hartenstein is superfluous with Mitchell Robinson on the roster.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
Does this deal net the Knicks a title run? It’s unlikely. At the same time, this would be a dangerous team. A conference finals appearance shouldn’t be out of the question. If the Knicks want to make strides next year, adding LaVine should help them do it. Should the Bulls give him up?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
For the Bulls, this may boil down to what they see in RJ Barrett. He’s been inconsistent throughout his NBA career, but he has flashed star upside. If the Bulls think they can help him maintain some consistency, this deal should appeal to them.
At the same time, Quickley has flashed star upside as well. This is a crafty guard who can create his own offense. Quickley is also a quietly excellent point-of-attack defender. If the Bulls are thinking of rebuilding, he’d be an excellent piece to add.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & New York Knicks Updates
With that said, nothing is more valuable to a rebuilding team than first-round picks. Here, the Bulls land a pair of them. All told, this ought to be market value for LaVine. In time, it could help the Bulls end the suffering of their fans – or at least, their younger ones.
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