The NBA is a star’s league. Sure, role players matter. If they aren’t playing with stars, their value declines. In the end, you’re not making a deep playoff run unless you’ve got one or two (or more) of the best players in the league.
Philadelphia 76ers general manager Daryl Morey knows this all too well. He’s made a reputation for himself for chasing stars at any expense. With that said, recently, he was forced to move a star. James Harden requested a trade. Now, he’s a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Morey didn’t get a star in return. On the other hand, he did get the next best thing: the assets to acquire a star. Now, observers expect him to flip those assets for a star at some point in the season. Could that star be Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls?
NBA Trade Proposal – Philadelphia 76ers Land Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls Receive: F/C Marcus Morris Sr., F Robert Covington, F Nicolas Batum, 2028 First-Round Pick (LAC via PHI), 2029 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2030 First-Round Pick (Swap – PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: G/F Zach LaVine
If you need proof that stars drive the league, look no further than the recent situation in Philadelphia. Harden said he wanted to go to the Clippers. He went to the Clippers. Meanwhile, he’s not the only player who wanted out of Philadelphia.
It’s been widely suggested that Furkan Korkmaz has requested a trade of his own. It doesn’t feel like that request is going to be honored. Korkmaz is a solid shooter who can contribute, but he’s not exactly a star. Is that why he’s not as empowered as Harden?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Frankly, yes. Sure, the Sixers could net a second-round pick or two for Korkmaz. Is that worth their time? On the other hand, they couldn’t afford a Harden-sized hole on their roster.
In the end, star players have more value to teams, so they’ll have more power in the league. Is LaVine the next star that the Sixers should chase?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
Sometimes, we write trades based on our notions. Other times, they’re based on rumors. This one falls into the latter camp. It seems the Sixers are interested in pursuing LaVine if he shakes loose.
Should they? We’re not sure. On some level, it feels like LaVine would step on Tyrese Maxey’s toes. That’s a lot of shot creation and relatively little playmaking between two star players. This may not be the cleanest fit in terms of roster construction.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Yet, we’d expect Morey to chase him anyway. At the end of the day, Maxey and LaVine may learn to play together. If they can, this deal would certainly make the Sixers much more talented. It may lower their floor, but it raises their ceiling considerably.
Should the Bulls help them raise their ceiling?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
Here, the Bulls are thinking about stars too. They’re thinking about stars that aren’t even in the NBA yet. In other words, they’re thinking about Ron Holland, Cooper Flagg, and Cameron Boozer.
The Bulls do this deal to tank. We can assume that if they’re moving on from LaVine, they’re moving on from DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic as well. In that event, they should be seeking draft capital. By that logic, this would be a good return for LaVine.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
It’s not necessarily a massive haul of draft capital. On the other hand, the Clippers are aging and injury-prone. This deal nets the Bulls an especially valuable unprotected first. In time, they’ll hope to use it to draft a star.
