The Chicago Bulls are trying to trade Zach LaVine in a multi-team deal to acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to NBA insider Kyle Neubeck.
Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers and wants to get traded to the Miami Heat. However, Portland continues to be reluctant to engage Miami in serious talks for Lillard, who only wants to play for the Heat. The Blazers have been aggressive in pursuing multi-team Lillard trade scenarios, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls Updates
“Portland is trying to put together a number of multi-team scenarios to see if they can get the assets back that they want in a trade for Damian Lillard,” Wojnarowski said. “They have been more aggressive here in the last few weeks only because the league started up again. Labor Day comes, teams are engaging again. I do think they’re engaging. The question is do they find a deal here in the next couple of weeks or do they have to bring Lillard back to camp?”
Lillard is close friends with Heat center Bam Adebayo and believes he can win an NBA championship in Miami playing alongside Jimmy Butler and Adebayo. The Heat have been working on a trade package for Lillard of expiring contracts, three to four first-round picks and one of the team’s younger players, with Tyler Herro going to a third team. The deal could potentially also involve second-rounders and draft pick swaps.
LaVine is “not happy” his name keeps coming up in trade rumors, a league source told NBA Analysis Network. The Bulls have engaged several teams on LaVine trade opportunities since the 2022-23 season ended and the two-time Slam Dunk champion isn’t pleased by that.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls Updates
“Zach is not happy he keeps seeing his name pop up in trade rumors year after year,” the NBA source said. “He’s represented the Bulls and the city of Chicago very well. He’s made two All-Star teams. He helped them get back to the playoffs. He’s played through several injuries. He hasn’t been a locker room cancer. For whatever reason, the Bulls keep dangling him in trade talks and it’s rubbing him the wrong way.”
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