The Chicago Bulls’ main “focal point” right now is to trade shooting guard Zach LaVine, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Bulls VP Arturas Karnisovas is responding to inquiries on other players on the roster by saying he wants to see what the roster looks like post-LaVine trade first.
“Only Zach LaVine and Coby White remain from the roster Karnišovas inherited, and trading LaVine is the main organizational focal point for now,” Johnson wrote. “In fact, league sources said that, at least for now, Karnišovas is responding to inquiries on other players by saying he wants to see what the roster looks like post-LaVine trade first.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls Updates
LaVine, who is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, would like to get traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs or Sacramento Kings, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The 28-year-old LaVine is averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists on the season while shooting 44.3% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 86.6% from the free-throw line.
The Bulls lost their last game to the Boston Celtics by 27 points. They are now 5-14 on the season. Chicago is on a five-game losing streak and all signs point toward LaVine getting traded before the trade deadline in February.
“This team has had enough conversations,” LaVine said. “We gotta get results. … You go out there and play, man. You got a lot of season left. You don’t play the scoreboard. You look at the standings, obviously. But you try to win every game you step into and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls Updates
The Bulls have made the playoffs just once in the LaVine era, which began in 2017-18. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2022 playoffs in five games.
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