The Miami Heat are the betting favorites to acquire Zach LaVine if the Chicago Bulls trade the All-Star shooting guard before the February 2024 NBA trade deadline.
The Heat missed out on Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Rival teams have checked in with the Bulls about LaVine‘s availability, according to NBA insider Jamal Collier of ESPN. However, no team has been willing to satisfy Chicago’s asking price for LaVine, who signed a five-year, $215.2 million contract in July 2022.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls Updates
LaVine has appeared in 343 games with the Bulls. He’s averaging 24.5 points in The Windy City. However, the Bulls have won just one playoff game since acquiring LaVine from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the summer of 2017 in the massive Jimmy Butler trade.
The Bulls engaged several teams on LaVine trade opportunities during the offseason and LaVine was “not happy” about it, a league source told NBA Analysis Network. The UCLA product’s future with Chicago is one the Heat should track.
“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.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls Updates
If the Bulls are not in the playoff picture near the 2024 trade deadline, don’t be surprised if LaVine is traded. The Heat, who lost to the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals, would have a Big 3 of LaVine, Butler and Bam Adebayo if Pat Riley acquired LaVine from Chicago.
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